The General good to go in Yarra Valley Cup

Breathtaking last-start Geelong Pacing Cup winner General Dodge will be back at the races this Thursday for a crack at another of the big country features.

Mick Chircop’s speed machine whizzed past superstar mare Amazing Dream – who subsequently won Saturday night’s Queen of the Pacific – on his way to Group 2 victory on October 23, and has come up with barrier six for his tilt at the United Petroleum Yarra Valley Pacing Cup.

General Dodge will take on David Aiken-trained Malcolms Rhythm, who jumped further clear on the Trots Country Cups Championship leaderboard following his last-start Swan Hill Pacing Cup triumph.

The quality Yarra Valley field includes Malcolms Rhythm’s stablemate Sirletic, Russell Jack-trained Boots Electric and Perfect Stride, Julie Douglas pair Torrid Saint and Bernie Winkle, and Major Roll, who is prepared by Kasey Kent.

The De Bortoli Yarra Valley Trotters Cup will also be contested at Group 3 level and looks a good race for Well Defined to show his best.

Kate Hargreaves’ star, who holds a big lead in the Maori’s Idol Trotting Championship, is one of three 20m backmarkers in the $25,000 standing start event. He was a gallant fourth last time out in the McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup at Geelong, when he was beaten 10.4m by Aldebaran Tess after starting from a 40m handicap.

Alongside him at the tapes on Thursday will be Havehorsewilltravel (Andy Gath) and Robbie Royale (Brent Lilley), while the in-form C K Spur, who is now in the care of South Australian-based Ryan Hryhorec, is one of three runners off 10m.

Both features will be contested over the long 2650m trip.

Paul Campbell will be trackside to bring you all of the action on TrotsVision, which has a supercharged four-day stretch ahead.

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Kirsten Graham are ready to ignite the 2021 Breeders Crown Series, which fires up with three-year-old pacing heats in Bendigo on Friday night. There we are set to see the likes of champion filly Ladies In Red, Kiwi gun Bettor Twist, Derby victor Act Now and dual Group 1 winner Bar Room Banta.

Rob Auber will then head up the coverage on Saturday night from Tabcorp Park Melton where patrons and owners are permitted back on track. Highlights of the meeting include the 2021 Weir’s Supa IGA St Arnaud Pacing Cup and 2021 BSL St Arnaud Sporting Club Trotters Cup.

Then on Sunday, Campbell is back in the host’s chair for a big afternoon of Breeders Crown Series two-year-old pacing heats.

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CLICK HERE FOR TABCORP PARK MELTON FIELDS

By Tim O’Connor for HRV