Many of Victoria's best trainers and jockeys will be chasing the rich spoils on Saturday at Morphettville with the Port Adelaide Guineas, McKay Stakes and the Queen of the South the features.

Jockey Craig Newitt has three great chances starting with Echoes Of Heaven in the 1800 metre Guineas. Newitt told me this week that Echoes Of Heaven has become dour very quickly this campaign so a good genuine pace would be a positive.

From barrier 13, Newitt expects to be in the back half of the field early but would be making a long run home. Following a hard-fought victory at Moonee Valley, Nakaaya has drawn beautifully in the $175,000 Queen of the South.

Newitt and the filly's trainer Mick Price have always had a very good opinion of Nakaaya and the jockey feels she's made further improvement from the last-start win. Nakaaya has learnt to settle in her races now and just maybe she has the qualities to match stablemate and Doncaster contender Aloha in the future.

Newitt is also back aboard Conservatorium in the McKay Stakes. From an outside barrier, the plan is to ride the horse quiet until the straight.

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VICTORIAN trainer Wayne Nichols takes Diplomatic Force back to Adelaide for the McKay Stakes. A closing second to Avenue in the Irwin Stakes showed Nichols Diplomatic Force can still produce at a high level particularly if the track is firm. Nichols also feels the drop to 56.5kgs will be crucial in such a strong and even line up. If Diplomatic Force runs well, he'll be off to the Goodwood.

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NOW to Randwick on Saturday and, in a very competitive Galaxy, Swift Alliance has a big chance of avenging last year's third placing. Swift Alliance may have drawn the outside barrier on Saturday but we can expect nothing less from a Gai Waterhouse-trained horse that jockey Nash Rawiller will press forward early. The Waterhouse stable feel strongly that Swift Alliance is flying given the way he opened up to win a fortnight ago. Waterhouse (pictured above) also saddles up New Day Rising on Saturday with 2000 metres looking an ideal trip.

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QUEENSLAND has two chances in Saturday's Emirates Doncaster Mile with Captain Sonador and Bold Glance. Scott Seamer is confident Bold Glance won't be the worst hope in Australia's most famous mile race. Bold Glance has become an honest galloper, with his effort last weekend in the Doncaster Prelude very good considering he was forced to cover ground from a wide barrier. With a far better barrier in the Doncaster, Seamer hopes to sit close to the action in fifth or sixth spot until the straight and then it's up to the horse to produce at Group One level.

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NOT a bad breeding performance by Chittick's Waikato Stud in New Zealand to have two runners in the Australian Oaks. Peter Moody tossed and turned about running Do Ra Mi but her gallop on Tuesday pleased the leading trainer. Waikato also has Dating in the Oaks for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. The filly has had no luck in her past three or four starts but one thing's for sure, Dating has the breeding to run out the 2400 metres strongly.