(Tony Brassel is a senior writer with The Sportsman.)

FILE this week's Five to Watch under the letter ‘S', starting with Lonhro's kid sister SHANNARA (three-year-old filly by Octagonal - Shadea, by Straight Strike).

One of the land's best maidens, this miss returned to racing with a close second to Flowerchild at Canterbury last Wednesday.

A centimetre decided the issue after both bluebloods came screaming down the outside. Shannara did look fit but the run can only bring her closer to scoring.

Also from the right side of the tracks is SO MUCH JOY (four-year-old mare by Red Ransom - So Gorgeous, by Brief Truce), a close relative to More Joyous.

Formerly trained in Melbourne, she now operates from Matthew Dale's Canberra complex and kicked off Black Opal Stakes day with a powerhouse 1200m win. She rolled a hot, hot, field of maidens.

Kris Lees should soon be bringing SINGLE PLAY (three-year-old filly by Not A Single Doubt - Playground, by Nediym) back to town following her Gosford return last Tuesday.

The flashy chestnut was ridden towards the rear in a five-horse field but did she cut loose in the home stretch!

The year-younger SUBLIME GIRL (two-year-old filly by Encosta De Lago - Running Smooth, by Marscay) is another ripper of a maiden - she's even Group 3-placed.

Last Saturday Mick Price sent her out for the second time to chase home classy Shaaheq in Flemington's Breeders' Stakes (1200m). A slight rise in trip looks in the offing now.

Staying down south, Mick Kent had considerable success with the half-brother to SECOND KING (three-year-old colt by King Of Prussia - Chinju, by Kaapstad) and big things await this AJC Derby entrant.

Kent must have had a wrap on the handsome brown to even throw him in the nominations.

Making his debut on March 5, Second King toyed with rivals in a 1410m Sale maiden so he's seven wins behind half-sibling Banana Man, winner of the Bendigo, Mornington and Colac Cups.

(PS: A Sixth to Watch, who is being saddled up tomorrow, is PRECEDENCE (pictured above after winning the Galilee Series Final at Caulfield last Easter). Cups King Bart Cummings is gradually tuning his one-time Melbourne Cup aspirant (a four-year-old gelding by Zabeel  - Kowtow, by Shadeed) back to peak form. A veteran of 14 starts, the hulking stayer snared only his second race win at Moonee Valley on February 26, scrambling home over 1600m. And tomorrow he starts in Race 2 at Flemington, in the No.2 saddlecloth.)