As Diamonds Day approaches at this Sundays harness racing meeting at Invercargill, we thought we should do a preview of some of the major races on the day.

First up is the 2015 Southland Oaks.

1) Twitter Bromac  –  Starts: 10    Wins: 1    Secs: 0    Thirds: 1    Life: $7,560

Nice enough filly but can get a bit keen in her races at times.

Draw an advantage but we still find it hard to see her as a top four chance.

Not for us.

2) Smokin Bird  –  Starts: 9    Wins: 4    Secs: 1    Thirds: 2    Life: $20,078

Very smart filly who has only been out of the money twice in her nine race start career.

Has raced most of these here before and has always been competitive and this draw brings her right into calculations.

Big trifecta and first four player for us.

3) Art Exhibit  –  Starts: 26    Wins: 1   Secs: 3    Thirds: 6    Life: $29,961 

Nice filly that always seems to find a couple that are too good for her.

Got a lovely run at Forbury and made ground late for fourth at her latest start which is her to a tee..

Outside first four player for us at best.

4) Machjagger  –  Starts: 9    Wins: 1  Secs: 0    Thirds: 1    Life: $5,589   –   (Emerg 1)

Very impressive winning her first race on the track but hasn't kicked on since.

Looks a bit outgunned at this stage of her career to us and we struggle to find a place for her in four if she made it back into the field.

Not for us.

5) Bonnies Khaleesi  –  Starts: 7    Wins: 1    Secs: 1    Thirds: 1    Life: $9,866

Very nice filly that is just below the very best ones going round.

Hasn't really run a bad race in her career to date but has struggled against a couple here.

Wouldn't surprise us if she lobbed into the first four here with a run to suit.

6) Crackabella  –  Starts: 8    Wins: 1    Secs: 1    Thirds: 1    Life: $13,357

Another filly with a future but unsure if this trip of 2700 metres suits her.

Would prefer her over something shorter and draw means she is at a disadvantage here.

Outside first four chance for us.

7) Bettor Think Twice  –   Starts: 19    Wins: 4   Secs: 1    Thirds: 2    Life: $37,658

Form looks a bit ordinary but overall record is quite good.

Her run at Forbury was her first for six weeks and she should show plenty of improvement from that.

Draw makes it tough but far from the worst in this lineup.

8) Maritime Arden  –  Starts: 11    Wins: 1    Secs: 2    Thirds: 0    Life: $8,119   –  (Emerg 2) 

Very speedy filly who needs a bit of luck in her races to be a player.

Draw would suggest she is going to need a lot of luck from there and we can't find a place for her even if she did make it back into the field.

Not for us.

9) Leave It To Me  –  Starts: 10    Wins: 1   Secs: 0    Thirds: 1    Life: $5,748

Consistent filly without looking like challenging a few of her rivals here.

Strength of field and draw makes it very hard to see her as a first four player.

Not for us.

10) Mighty Empire  –  Starts: 7    Wins: 1   Secs: 3    Thirds: 1    Life: $11,492

Has impressed track watchers in her brief career and never further back than fourth in seven starts to date.

The 2700 metres will suit this filly more than most but might just lack that real high speed that some of her opponents have,

Must have for first four players.

11) Rocker Band  –  Starts: 7    Wins: 3   Secs: 2    Thirds: 1    Life: $33,249

Class act who is the horse they all have to beat.

Has blinding speed if held up for one run but can do work and still run the quick sectionals.

Has looked a touch vulnerable on wet tracks here in the past so looking for a firm and fast track.

Top pick for us. 

12) Princess Arts  –  Starts: 9    Wins: 3    Secs: 1    Thirds: 0    Life: $17,731

Only needed a front row draw here to be a major winning chance.

Still a very smart filly with in form driver in the bike so dismiss at your peril.

Must have for trifectas and first fours.

13) Annajodi  –  Starts: 6    Wins: 1   Secs: 1    Thirds: 2    Life: $5,599 

Has done nothing wrong in a brief career to date but this is a huge step up here.

Throw in the poor draw and we can't see her running in four.

Not for us.

14) Donegal Kahlum  –  Starts: 3    Wins: 3    Secs: 0    Thirds: 0    Life: $13,710

Very smart filly with the draw from hell.

Dexter in the bike is a big plus and can do work so not out of it even from the draw.

Will need a few things to go her way to win this but capable of winning this.

The danger to Rocker Band.

SELECTIONS

Rocker Band is top pick for us but she is vunerable to a couple here if things go their way.

Donegal Kahlum is the main danger to Rocker Band while both Smokin Bird and Princess Arts are both dangerous with a run to suit.

Throw in Bonnies Khaleesi and Mighty Empire for trifectas and first fours.

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