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Tasmania has the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) within its grasp with only one leg remaining at Sandown in Melbourne on Wednesday.

After three rounds Tasmania leads the series with 17 points and one clear of South Australia with Queensland and Victoria on nine points and unable to win the series even if one of those state representatives wins the final race.

Taylor Johnstone picked up second place points in Hobart on Sunday aboard the Scott Brunton-trained Finxy that she partnered into third place (5 points) with top points (7) going to South Australia's representative Margaret Collette who rode second-placed Sunset Gun.

Tasmania's leading rider Codi Jordan has drawn the Tom Dabernig-trained Peidra that is likely to vie for favouritism, but SA rider Angus Chung has drawn the early favourite Rathlin.

The Ciaron Maher-David Eustace-trained four-year-old comes off a last-start third in a Magic Millions feature at Muswellbrook and is the top-rated horse (71) in the field of eight.

If Jordan finishes in front of Chung's mount Tasmania will win the series.