The first two home in both the Schweppes and the Allied sprints will gain a place in next week's Miracle Mile and they are two very different races with the fancies enjoying varying fortunes at the barrier draw.
Bondi Lockdown looks the one to beat in the Schweppes given the coveted pegs draw.
He has returned in fine order having come from wide barriers in both starts since joining the McCarthy yard for this campaign, progressing off a resuming second to score here a fortnight ago.
He is reaching peak fitness and this should pan out well.
Spirit Of St Louis gave a sight in the Hunter Cup last start when he led and was challenged several times before only fading late.
He will relish the return to Menangle having won his previous two here, both times from much wider barriers.
Hunter Cup hero Honolua Bay has his first outing since landing that major when he charged home along the sprint lane.
He has copped the visitor's draw but has recorded two wins and a placing from three attempts at the mile and is going well enough to overcome the barrier.
Better Eclipse hasn't raced since the Vicbred Super Series in December but he goes well fresh and has been readied with two strong trials while Expensive Ego performed well to finish fifth in the Hunter Cup from a second row draw and owns strong strike rates at both the venue and the distance.
There are plenty of chances in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II but luck from wide draws for some of the main players will hold the key.
Braeview Kelly is a smart mare who has won both outings at this circuit since a spell and will be hitting her peak.
She has impressive strike rates at both the venue and the distance and is going well enough to overcome the barrier.
Tough Tilly was brave last week when she came from this same barrier and sat parked but proved too good in the Robin Dundee.
She is unbeaten at the distance and has won three of four attempts here so has strong claims again.
Stylish Memphis has been ticking over well without winning on this Sydney raid, placing in all three outings.
She has won this race for the last two years and will be peaking so could do it again.
Smart Kiwi filly Kahlua Flybye may have to do it the hard way from a wide barrier in the other Group 1 of the night - the NSW Oaks - but she has looked good in winning her two Australian outings, landing last week's heat by 1.8m.
She will be hitting peak fitness third up and should prove hard to beat.
Peaceful kicked off her campaign with a win over the boys at this circuit before chasing Kahlua Flybye last week.
She draws inside that rival this time so that gives her every chance to turn the tables.
Soho Seraphine cops the widest barrier but she is a model of consistency and also came from deep when winning her heat last week so deserves respect while Sky Blu is building in fitness and gets the right draw tonight.
At Melton on Saturday night Just Believe will be out to cement his place as Victoria's best trotter in the Group 1 Austarlian Trotting Grand Prix.
He already has the Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star crowns under his belt this campaign and should go close again from the favourable barrier but Im Ready Jet and Mufasa Metro are both drawn to challenge.
BEST BETS:
Menangle Saturday Race 2 #6 Port Au Prince @ $2.40 – Won fresh then missed by only 2m last starts. Has a strong record here and will be close to his peak.
Menangle Saturday Race 8 #1 Alta Meteor @ $2.80 – Brings good form from NZ and will be race fit third up. This should pan out well from the ace draw.
