The Graham Seymour trained filly led all of the way to take out her heat of the  Australian Pacing Gold on Tuesday in marginally quicker time than other heat winner Louvre who clocked 1.55.7 for the 1609m.

The Archduchess will start from gate seven while Louvre has drawn outside her at gate nine.

“I was very happy with the way she performed in the heat, it was her first start since choking down in the New South Wales Oaks and I was a bit apprehensive,” Seymour said.

Seymour is far from overconfident and says his filly will face some stiff opposition on the night.

“They don’t hand out any race let alone Group 1 finals, both heat winners were impressive but some of these other fillies can certainly feature with luck in running.”

“My job is to have my filly spot-on and that’s all I’m worried about heading into Saturday’s final, she was dehydrated recently but I’m very pleased with the way she has come through her heat.”

“I would’ve preferred to draw in a little closer but she has brilliant early speed and the sprint trip won’t worry her in the slightest.”

Regular driver Chris Petroff will regain the reins The Archduchess after missing Tuesday’s win because of a delay at the Gold Coast airport and was replaced by outstanding lightweight reinsperson Ashlee Siejka.

Seymour said that Siejka handled the filly perfectly after being called on to drive at short notice.

The Archduchess has been a great money spinner with eight wins from 23 starts with 12 minor placing’s to her credit with earnings in excess of $237,000.

Chris Petroff will again be behind the filly who is striving to regain the form which saw her lead all the way when too strong for Lettucereason at Menangle three runs back.

Petroof  then employed the same tactics in the a heat of the NSW Oaks in finishing a respectable second to La Machane.

The Archduchess is facing Lettucereason again who is to be driven by reinsman Luke McCarthy.

Heat two will see the clash between the Victorian filly Louvre and Queenslander Rosa Mach who is to be driven by Shane Graham.

Rosa Mach has a great record at Menangle with two wins from two starts and will get a great run from the inside draw.

The Jayne Davies trained Soho Valencia will be striving for his third win from as starts this campaign when he steps out in the first heat for the colts and geldings.

Soho Valencia showed his class in winning last start coming off a second row draw defeating Night Affair and Driving Withtess at Melton on Mar 2.

Major Kelly looks the one to beat in the second colts and geldings heat after scoring at Menangle two starts back and Macca Kelly is sure to race well having won at his last start two starts at Young and Wagga.

Chris Alford will be looking for Soho Highroller to bounce back to the winner’s list in heat three after a last start fourth at Tabcorp Park at Melton after scoring first up at Shepparton.

Philadelhpia Man is back to form with a win and a second at Ballarat after finishing down the track to Scandalman in the Victoria Derby on February 4.