Making his Victorian debut, the Brendan Wheeler-trained youngster started fairly from box 8 but proved too good for the locals, winning by 3 lengths. The win maintained his unbeaten record, but he will need some luck in the final after drawing box 6.

Dentax Bale is in the care of master trainer Graeme Bate during his Victorian campaign, and Bate secured his own finalist when Kinka Bale took out the final heat.

Bate's hopes of his first Launching Pad win improved when Kinka Bale drew the cherished box 1.

Manna Keato was the night's fastest heat winner with a slick 29.82 seconds. Manna Keato led through the first turn and was never threatened.

Jason Thompson's dazzling run of group race success looks set to continue after Aston Vantage blitzed his rivals by 6 lengths.

The noted wide runner was slow to the first turn but did enough to take the lead, and will be hard to run down in next week's final after drawing box 8.

Tina Womann's superbly bred Shiver Inside took out the night's opening heat in 29.90 seconds, and will be joined by Dawbilows Heaven and Book Of Music - both of which ran 29.98 seconds - and Bald Head Champ, who won in 30.23 seconds.

The final of the $36,250 Group 3 race will be run this Thursday.