Eight Nutrien finals will be conducted at the meeting across both pacing and trotting disciplines but it is the decider for the juvenile male pacers that looks the best betting contest with promising youngsters from Queensland and NSW taking on their Victorian counterparts.
Grant Dixon's Fate Awaits has made a big impression with three dominant wins in Brisbane, last time spanking his rivals by more than 28m at Albion Park.
He takes on a stronger bunch at Melton and has to overcome a second row draw but looks to have the talent to measure right up.
The Highlight Reel is one of five in the race for Clayton Tonkin and made it two from two when he led and dominated his heat at Ballarat, scoring a soft 7.5m win.
Saturday will be the first time he hasn't drawn on the pegs but it's hard to knock what he has done so far.
Its Confidential is still very green but is undefeated and produced a huge performance after an early break to win his heat at Menangle.
He cops a tough draw with an ODM as a result of that and lacks maturity but the potential is untapped.
Cigano is another of the Tonkin team and he too may need luck from the second line but he looked good in a debut win in the heats and should only be improved while stablemate Storms Collide is one of the few major players to draw on the front row and he is in contention from there.
Team Tonkin has just two runners in the 2F Final but they dominate early betting.
Ivseenheavenslight was terrific on debut when she broke early and was out the back but rounded them up for a 2m win at Ballarat. She'll be improved by the experience and with better manners can go on with the job.
Stablemate Miss Australiana was impressive on debut in the heats when she took advantage of the ace draw to lead and win by 8.6m. Her hopes have been dealt a blow by the back row draw but she looks a talent.
Bay Of Biscay is the clear standout in the 3CG Final.
He has been freshened since a Sydney raid where he was runner up in the Group 1 NSW Derby last start to follow a win in the heats.
He led from similar draws in both of those outings so expect him to push forward and dominate this field.
Multiple Group 1 winner Lux Aeterna gets her chance to bounce back to form in the 3F Final.
Last season's star juvenile has been short of her brilliant best so far this campaign and comes off her first two unplaced efforts but she did some work last time and pulled up with a veterinary issue two back.
She is beautifully placed and her last visit to this circuit saw her finish second in the G1 Breeders Crown Final.
She draws well and if she is anywhere near her best she will beat these.
At Menangle a quality line-up of mares will be gunning for qualification in next month's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile when they tackle the G2 Sibelia Stakes.
Kiwi mare Aardie's Express is a newcomer to the Trainor yard and brings strong form from NZ including a G3 win two back at Alexandra Park.
She draws wide but loves this distance, winning all three attempts and has a strong fresh record so will be ready to go off two trials, winning the latest by a big space.
Manhattan is hard to knock having won her two starts at this circuit since crossing from NZ, coming from wider barriers each time. She is fit and must rate highly from this better draw.
Illavabubbles missed the placings for the first time since joining Grimson when midfield last time but has won six of her other seven attempts here. She is drawn to get the favours so should be included.
Soho Historia is a smart mare from a strong yard who won her lone attempt at this distance and will be ready to go off two trial wins.
Not To Be Denied deserves respect after she claimed a couple of good scalps in her Riverina Championships win last start as does last year's QEII winner Braeview Kelly who draws wide but hasn't missed a place this time in.
