Summer Of Glory Finale at Melton sees the nations best in action

Harness Racing Victoria’s Summer of Glory culminates this Saturday evening at Melton and organisers could not have wished for a better program.

When HRV last year announced the $1 million bonus for a pacer who could win three of the country cups and the AG Hunter there seemed little likelihood of one horse still in the hunt for the bonus after the country cups but that is precisely the situation when the nation’s leading pacer Leap To Fame contests this Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 Sportsbet AG Hunter Cup at Melton.

Dispelling any doubts as to his ability to continue winning over feature races over many seasons Leap To Fame in fact has never looked better in winning the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore Pacing Cups over the last three weeks.

And in the Hunter Cup he will face yet another sterling task from Barrier 6 in a top quality field. In particular his two Australian nemeses namely Swayzee and Kingman will make their presence felt.

As has been the case in the previous races, the barrier draw has played a crucial role in determining favouritism and this again will be the case in the Hunter Cup.

Iron pacer Swayzee has drawn barrier two and whilst not renowned for early speed depending on the mobile despatch he could very well take up the running. He would be mighty hard to beat if he led. Leap To Fame has been showing a bit more early speed recently and driver Grant Dixon will be looking to get him across at the start without too much effort.

Kingman has drawn ten on the second line and much will depend on how far driver Luke McCarthy can steer him to a stalking position behind the front runners. If they have done a fair amount of work in front he will be in a position to pounce on the leaders at the business end of the race. New Zealander Republican Party has drawn favourably on the pole and will elect to take the trail behind the leader if driver Carter Dalgety wants it. However he hasn’t a great record against the Australians and it’s hard to see him turning the tables.

The Hunter Cup has a full field of twelve runners and it’s great to see the presence of veterans Bulletproof Boy and Max Delight who are sure to give their usual everything in a race.

Emma Stewart has three runners and the best of her prospects may well be with War Dan Buddy who rattled home for an eye catching third in the Kilmore Cup.

The $250,000 Group 1 Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star for Trotters will see two heats run as Races 2 and 3 with the Final at 9.33pm over 1720 metres.

The standout is mercurial mare Keayang Zahara who looks head and shoulders above any of her rivals. The only question arising is her ability to back up two and a half hours later in the Final. But she is such a relaxed and foolproof mare that she should still be up for the task and if she wins she will collect a $500,000 bonus.

Her stablemate Jilliby Ballerini faces a tough task coming from the second row even after she brilliantly won last week’s Kilmore Trotters Cup. However if she trots safely in a trial at Terang on Wednesday and gets around her Heat as well then she will be placed back into the barrier draw for the Final.

Jilliby Ballerini has a touch of brilliance about her and she’s probably not that far behind her illustrious companion but most punters will prefer Keayang Zahara.

The other interesting runner in the first Heat is last year’s winner Watts Up Partytime. He resumed last Saturday night at Menangle over the flying mile and could not have been more impressive leading all the way and running 1.53 for the trip.

The other Group 1 feature on the night is the $150,000 Benstud Standardbreds Queen Of The Pacific and outstanding mare Captains Mistress will start a short priced favourite. At Cranbourne last Saturday night she ran her third quarter in 25.9 seconds in winning the Angelique and since arriving in Australia for new trainer Jason Grimson she is unbeaten in her three appearances.

Her main danger looks to be Eye Keep Smiling who won everything before her last season winning eleven consecutive races. Both her and her stablemate Steno have drawn awkwardly on the second row but the issue for all competitors is whether they can run out the testing 2760 metre trip.

Another feature on the night will be the $50,000 Group 3 Hip Pocket Workwear Castlemaine Bonanza for four year olds where the winner will be automatically invited for the Group 1 Chariots of Fire at Menangle on 7 March. It’s an open event with the presence of former New Zealander Fugitive the likely favourite. He created a big impression winning at Menangle last Saturday evening in 1.55.6 over the 2300 metre trip.

The ten event program gets under way just after 6pm Eastern Standard Time.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink