This is a genuinely fast-run race on paper with seven likely leaders, which should set it up perfectly for anything with tactical speed that can sit just off them. That's exactly what Harry Met Sally brings to the table. Mark Walker's gelding ran fourth at Flemington nine days ago behind Gin Twist, beaten 5.5 lengths, but that was at a much higher level and the run before that is the one that matters. He ran third at Pakenham over 1000m in a maiden, beaten only 0.7 lengths behind Rich On Bubbles, and that form has been franked solidly. The horse has race experience, a Pakenham placing, and maps to sit just off the speed battle with Lachlan Neindorf from barrier six. I think he's the clear pick.

Quarter Mile is the obvious danger from the Ben, Will & Jd Hayes stable. He won a Flemington 800m trial only ten days ago and has trialled consistently well. The concern is he's got no race experience beyond those jumpouts and will need to navigate a hot speed battle. At short odds, I'm not convinced he's good value when we've got a horse with actual form in the race. King's Address is another from the Maher stable who trialled at Caulfield Heath 130 days ago and hasn't been seen since. That's a massive gap for a two-year-old, and while the stable can get them ready fresh, I'd need to see more evidence.

Kung Fu Panda won a Flemington 800m trial and ran third in another, but again, we're talking about trials versus actual race form. Silent Devotion ran fourth at Ballarat over 900m last start, beaten 6.25 lengths on a Soft track, and that's simply not good enough for this. The speed map is clear: there'll be a stack of them going forward early, the pace will be genuine, and anything that can position off them with cover should get the perfect run. Harry Met Sally ticks every box for me.

This is a slow-tempo 1500m maiden which immediately disadvantages the closers and puts the pressure on horses that can position on the speed or just behind it. Pol Rogeur ran second at Werribee over 1400m last start, beaten only a length behind It's Gnarly in a ten-horse field. Before that, he ran third at Cranbourne over 1200m, beaten 4.5 lengths, but the step up in trip clearly suited him at Werribee. He's had two runs this prep, maps to get a good position, and the 1500m looks ideal. Jake Noonan knows the track well, and I think he's the one to beat.

Antalian has had fifteen starts for zero wins, which tells you everything about his winning ability. Yes, he ran third at Seymour last start over 1300m, beaten 0.6 lengths, and he ran third at Kyneton before that over 1454m, beaten 0.81 lengths. He's incredibly consistent at running third, but I'm not convinced he knows how to win. At short odds, I'd be very cautious. Share The Stars ran second at Kilmore over 1450m last start, beaten 0.75 lengths, and has placed at this distance before. She's a genuine chance if the tempo suits, but I'm not sure it will with limited speed in the race.

Future Frankie is the interesting runner coming back from a 129-day break. She's a Mark Walker filly by Frankel, ran third at Cranbourne over 1600m two starts back, beaten four lengths, but then ran sixth at Cranbourne over 2025m last start as favourite. That's a concern. Stepping back to 1500m should help, but the long break and inconsistent form make her hard to trust. Or Am I has been racing over the right distances and ran fifth at Sale over 1717m last start on a Soft track, beaten 2.5 lengths. She's not without a chance but needs to find a couple of lengths. I think Pol Rogeur has the form edge and the right profile for this race.

Another maiden over 2000m with limited speed, which means the race will likely be a sit-and-sprint affair. Colizzi comes back from a 31-day break after running second at Hobart over 2200m on a Soft track, beaten 0.75 lengths behind Dad And Dave. Before that, he ran second at Geelong over 1755m, beaten a nose. He's clearly crying out for 2000m-plus, and the fresh-up angle with John Allen aboard is a positive. The concern is he's had four starts for zero wins, but the placings suggest he's knocking on the door.

Royal Optimism is a Chris Waller gelding by Frankel who ran third at Yarra Valley over 1968m last start, beaten 0.52 lengths as favourite. That's a fair effort, and he ran third the start before that over 1500m, beaten 0.21 lengths. He's consistent without being brilliant, but the blinkers go on for the first time today, which suggests connections think there's improvement to come. At short odds, he's a genuine chance, but I'm not convinced he's got the class edge over Colizzi.

Nightowl ran second here at Ballarat over 1600m last start, beaten 3.5 lengths as a short-priced favourite. That's a concern. He's had eight starts for zero wins and five seconds, which suggests he's a professional bridesmaid. The blinkers come off today, which is an interesting gear change, but I'm not sure it helps. Tryst And Doubt ran fifth at Sandown Hillside over 1600m last start, beaten 2.76 lengths, and ran third at Geelong over 1412m before that. He's racing well without winning, but the step up to 2000m is a query. I think Colizzi and Royal Optimism are the two to focus on, with a slight edge to the former given the distance profile.

This is a 1200m maiden heat with limited speed on paper, which should suit horses that can position forward. Manifest The Milli is the favourite from the Danny O'brien stable and ran second at Caulfield Heath over 1000m in a jumpout last start, beaten a length. He's had eight starts for zero wins but has three seconds and a third, so he's been knocking on the door consistently. The blinkers stay on, and the drop back to 1200m after failing over longer looks sensible. At short odds, he's a fair chance, but I'm not convinced he's unbeatable.

Bjarne ran second at Sale over 1212m on a Heavy track last start, beaten 1.25 lengths behind Louis Barthas. That's solid form, and he's racing consistently without winning. He's had nine starts for zero wins, which is a concern, but the placings suggest he's genuine. The blinkers stay on, and Luke Currie takes the ride. I think he's a genuine chance at longer odds. Unriddle is the interesting runner with 29 starts for zero wins. That's a staggering record of futility. He ran second at Stony Creek last start over 1100m, beaten 0.5 lengths, and has been placed four times from 29 starts. At some point, you have to question whether he actually wants to win.

Recycle King comes back from a 165-day spell after running tenth at Geelong over 1440m. That's a long break, and the form before it wasn't convincing. Dame I Am ran third at Ballarat over 1200m last start, beaten 3.25 lengths, and has shown some ability at this track. She's not without a chance but needs to find improvement. I think Manifest The Milli is the most likely winner, but Bjarne offers value if you're looking for something at longer odds. This is a weak maiden, and I'm not getting excited about any of them.

This is a weak BM62 over 1200m with limited speed, which should favour horses that can position forward or just off the pace. Into You is the favourite and ran fifth at Ballarat over 1200m last start in a BM70, beaten 6.8 lengths. That's not a great effort, but she was racing above this grade. Before that, she ran sixth at Ballarat over 1600m, beaten 5.7 lengths. The drop back in distance and grade should help, and she's won twice from 17 starts with five placings. At short odds, she's a fair chance, but I'm not sure she's unbeatable given the recent form.

Warparty ran third at Ballarat over 900m in a jumpout last start, beaten 1.5 lengths. He's a four-year-old gelding by Hellbent with three wins from 20 starts, and he maps to get a good position from barrier two. The concern is he's racing off a 14-day break after a trial, which suggests he might need the run. Torlaah ran sixth at Kyneton over 1118m last start in a BM62, beaten 5.4 lengths. That's not great form, but he won at Sale two starts back over 1012m by 1.75 lengths in a Restricted 62. He's a first-up specialist with two wins from six first-up runs, and the claim brings him right down in the weights. At longer odds, he's worth considering.

Turn Up The Night won at Kyneton over 1118m two starts back in a BM62, which gives him form at this level. He ran eighth at Caulfield Heath last start, beaten 7.91 lengths, but that was in a higher grade. The quick backup is a concern, having run only five days ago. Fondled won at Kyneton over 1218m last start in a maiden, which means she's stepping up sharply in grade today. That's a big ask, even though she's won at the distance. I think Into You is the most likely winner despite the recent form concerns, but Torlaah offers value at longer odds if you're looking for something against the favourite.

This is a 1000m BM62 with limited speed, which should suit horses with natural pace. Wazing is the favourite after winning her maiden at Ballarat over 1000m last start. That's solid form at this track and distance, and she's clearly got ability. The concern is she's stepping straight from a maiden into a BM62, which is a sharp rise in grade. The stallion chain goes on for the first time, which suggests connections are worried about her behaviour. At short odds, I think she's vulnerable.

Honor Galore ran eighth at Caulfield Heath last start over 1200m in a BM74, beaten 6.51 lengths. That's not great form, but she was racing above this grade. Before that, she ran second at Cranbourne over 955m in a BM70, beaten 1.75 lengths. She's got three wins from 18 starts, all at 1000m, and she's a first-up specialist with three wins from five first-up runs. The drop back in grade is significant, and the cross-over noseband goes on for the first time. At short odds, she's a genuine chance.

Yolo ran third at Ballarat over 1200m last start in a BM70, beaten 5.75 lengths. That's not convincing form, but he ran fourth at Kyneton before that over 1118m in a BM62, beaten 1.5 lengths. The drop back to 1000m should suit, and the nose roll goes on for the first time. Aqueduct ran seventh at Sandown Hillside last start over 1300m in a BM66, beaten 11 lengths on a Soft track. That's poor form, but he ran fourth at Cranbourne before that over 1200m in a BM70, beaten 1.75 lengths. The drop in distance and grade should help. Loving Mandy is the interesting runner coming back from a 75-day break. She's won three times from ten starts, all at 1000m, and ran eighth at Wagga last start, beaten 5.52 lengths. She's a genuine 1000m specialist who handles this track. At longer odds, I think she's the value play in the race.

This is a 1600m BM62 with a fast-tempo race expected, given eight likely leaders on paper. That should set it up perfectly for horses that can sit off the speed and finish strongly. Subtle Power ran second at Ballarat over 1600m last start in a BM62, beaten 2.5 lengths. That's solid form at this track and distance, and she's been placed four times from 14 starts with one win. Before that, she ran fourth at Geelong over 1755m in a BM62, beaten 1.96 lengths. She's racing consistently without winning often, but the form is solid enough at this level. Dakotah Keane takes the ride with a 2kg claim, and she maps to get a good run just off the speed battle.

Savvie Blanc is the favourite after winning at Seymour over 1600m last start in a BM66. That's a higher grade than this, and he won convincingly. The concern is he's stepping back in grade, which suggests connections don't think he's ready for better races yet. He's won three times from ten starts, all at 1600m, and maps to lead from barrier eight. With eight likely leaders, I'm not sure he'll get an easy time in front. High Tempo won at Moe over 1600m last start in a BM56, which is a lower grade than this. She's stepping up sharply, having won only two races from eight starts. The concern is she's never won above BM56 level.

Caleana ran fourth at Seymour over 1600m last start behind Savvie Blanc, beaten 4.75 lengths. That form ties in directly with the favourite, and he was beaten comprehensively. Cardi Bee ran second at Ballarat over 1400m last start in a BM62, beaten 3.75 lengths. That's solid form at this grade, but the step up to 1600m is a query. I think Subtle Power is the most consistent type at this level, and with a hot pace expected, she should get the perfect run sitting off them. Savvie Blanc is the obvious danger but will need to work hard from the outset.