Team McCarthy’s Australian Pacing Gold Fillies' Final contender Three Squared needs to improve on her semi-final to win on Saturday night – but the word out of the harness racing camp is she can.

“I’ve got a pretty high opinion of her,” said Luke McCarthy, who will steer the daughter of Mach Three at Tabcorp Park Melton.

“She just hasn’t quite been as sharp since Bathurst.

"Her work during the week has been really good and she should improve a lot.”

McCarthy is pointing to Three Squared’s recent Bathurst carnival where she ran fourth in the Gold Tiara Final after being the fastest of the heat winners.

In the heat she dashed home by almost 12 metres in a rate of 1:56.5.

Nine days later she was five metres behind winner Pixies Parlour in the decider after working hard early before getting one-one cover and still finishing off quite well.

Since the Gold Tiara Three Squared has had two starts for a second at Menangle behind Lettuce Go Pippa, when she led from gate seven over the mile and was beaten by a metre-and-a-half in 1:58.3, and a last-start fifth in the APG semi last weekend at Melton when she sat in the 'death seat'.

McCarthy acknowledged he and trainer-wife Belinda, had “backed off her” after Bathurst to have her fresh and ready for the APG series.

From barrier three McCarthy stated he will be looking to go forward with Three Squared, but predicted polemarker Hazels Girl would probably lead.

“I think Hazels Girl will probably begin quicker this week given she’s had that run at Melton,” McCarthy said. "I’ll be looking to go forward and race handy.”

Meanwhile, Hazels Girl has been backed in the TAB fixed odds markets from $4.60 into $4.

The Daniel Neagoe-trained daughter of Art Major and former APG winner Miss Hazel looks the likely leader for reinsman David Morris.

The $3.50 favourite, Zaras Delight, is rock solid at her price from gate five and is considered the filly most likely to challenge Hazels Girl for the front.

Equal third picks are Jilliby Jitterbug from gate eight and Mark Purdon-trained My Mackenzie from gate four, both at $5.

Jilliby Jitterbug won her heat by using the sprint lane to upstage Zaras Delight. She’s drawn for a similar run this time around.

Hot Shot Woman, a stablemate of Hazels Girl, is right in the market at $7, backed in from $7.50.

She caught the eye in the semi-final, but can race forward if needed, as she did behind Three Squared from a wide draw at Menangle recently.

Trainer Gary Quinlan has a solid APG record, winning two of the previous three editions – Musical Delight was victorious in 2012, with Queen Of Pop scoring last year.

This year he has Magical Delight, which is sitting on $7.50 with the TAB.

– HRV Media

Fields for Tabcorp Park Melton, Saturday 02 May 2015

Form guide for Tabcorp Park Melton, Saturday 02 May 2015