VERDICT: Long And Strong to make short work of rivals.

BRAZEN HUSSTA: Messara believes Hussta La Vista faces a formidable task in the Racetree Handicap but the three-year-old filly does have a touch of quality.

"She is only a little filly that has drawn badly," Messara said. "She has plenty against her. I think it is going to be pretty tough for her, to be honest."

With Messara's retained jockey Glyn Schofield returning to his native South Africa for a major race meeting, the trainer has once again gone for the best up north, with Colless taking over on Hussta La Vista.

Hussta La Vista, which won back-to-back races at Rosehill earlier this year before finishing seventh behind Golden Slipper winner Forensics in the Light Fingers Stakes, caught the eye when resuming with a fast-finishing second behind Albert The Fat at Eagle Farm two weeks ago. The concerns for Messara amount to Hussta La Vista rising 3.5 kilos in weight to 58kg and barrier 14.

"The fancied runners have drawn well to get good runs," Messara said. "Often, barriers are the difference between winning and losing."

Consistent galloper and last-start Sunshine Coast winner Pertinence will start from barrier six while Blue Jupiter, which is prepared by Liam Birchley, who trained more winners than anyone over the Brisbane winter carnival, will be launched from gate one.

While Messara's worries are warranted, the trainer did say: "There is no doubt she [Hussta La Vista] is a quality filly."

VERDICT: Quality counts. Go Hussta .

LAST CHANCE: Rounding out the Messara trio for Eagle Farm is stud-bound mare Alverta. An appointment with Arrowfield Stud sire Hussonet awaits Alverta after today's Ascot Handicap.

The mare which once made Takeover Target work overtime for victory hasn't had a lot of luck in each of three Queensland starts. "She has had a lifetime of drawing bad barriers and running into bad luck," Messara said.

"She has drawn a decent barrier [three] and hopefully she can have a nice run."

The 1300m event doesn't look overly strong, with the topweight Atapi backing up after finishing sixth behind Pinnacles in the Glasshouse at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday. Before that, Atapi had finished down the track in the Stradbroke, and the gelding must give Alverta 4.5kg today.

"I'd like her to bow out a winner, she deserves it," Messara said of Alverta..

VERDICT: Alverta to do exactly that.

TERRIFIC CHANCE: Patrick Payne floated Kerdem north for the Caloundra Cup last weekend but it is today's Queensland Cup for which the trainer and one-time ace jockey has set the stayer.

Payne said Kerdem had lost weight on the trip from Victoria and the effort to finish sixth behind Fast Future in the Caloundra Cup gave every indication the five-year-old is on target for today's 3200m event.

Also emerging from the Caloundra Cup is the New Zealand raider Tedriffic. Prepared by renowned horseman John Wheeler, Tedriffic ran into a traffic jam near the 500m last week with the training saying: "It was a time when we wanted to be in clean space and winding up."

Wheeler has specifically aimed Tedriffic at today's cup and the distance will be of no concern. Last November, Tedriffic finished third in the New Zealand Cup over the same trip.

VERDICT: Tedriffic will be just terrific.