Saturday night’s feature meeting moves from The Meadows to Shepparton for the running of the Listed $25,000 to-the-winner Northern Districts Cup.

A race won by some up-and-coming stars over the years, this year’s version has quite a tasty local flavour to the line up which is a brilliant opportunity for those trainers to share the feature race spotlight.

It wouldn’t be a final with out a Team Thompson finalist but aside from the Pearcedale pin up, six of the eight have claims on being locally connected whether that be trainer, owner or breeder. With the Sportsbet market having the race essentially $4 the field, it’s as open as it gets.

The Northern Districts Cup is Race 10 at 9.39pm on Saturday night.

STORM SHADOW (1)
Brilliant over 390m but has only has one go over the 450 for a second in his heat. Draws perfectly. Key player.

DUNDEE SKYE (2)
Deserves to be favourite. Crossed from the pink in a Bendigo Cup heat. Only beaten 3 lengths in the final. If she leads she will be mighty hard to beat.

HARD LAUNCH (3)
Decent heat run to qualify but this is a big test for him.

ASTON GRANEUR (4)
Wasn’t far behind the favourite on Monday. Sticky draw, will need luck but could run top 4.

SCOTT LYLAH (5)
Has great early toe. Draw may not be too bad potentially. Maybe a touch suspect late but if she had a few lengths gap turning for home she could certainly hang on to win.

RED HOT (6)
Dismiss at your own peril. Probably wont be in the early hustle and bustle but will charge late.

KRAKEN RIPPER (7)
Super heat win and form lately has been first rate. Draws very well again for him as he likes it wide. Definite hope.

GEORGIE SUNSHINE (8)
Not blessed with early speed but she can rip home late. Her form is very honest and she is on the up.

It’s a tricky race. I like Dundee Skye (2) given her Cup form is probably the strongest line coming into the final. She draws well and I think she can lead. Kraken Ripper (7) is racing very well at the moment and his draw suits him down to the ground. They are my top two.

Outside of them you have to consider numbers 1,5,6 and 8 as legitimate hopes with the right luck.

SELECTIONS
DUNDEE SKYE (2), KRAKEN RIPPER (7), GEORGIE SUNSHINE (8), SCOTT LYLAH (5)

Race favourite Dundee Skye (1) wins her heat

Friday’s edition of Grey Areas, where Topgun opinions dominated the conversation