Debate on hold as juvenile Crowning glory arrives

Despite the obvious advantages associated with staging Victoria’s feature harness racing futurity series in warmer weather, there’s still something unsettling about the TAB Breeders Crown occupying the space it now does.

They say, at least L P Hartley said, that the past is a foreign country; and never has this aphorism held more truth than with the Breeders Crown.

Just two years ago, Australasia’s most famous and revered age-restricted series was staged at what was then the season’s end, in the freezing cold of August at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

For an extended period, the Crown was staged on the traditional Christian Sabbath and was suitably marketed as Super Sunday.

Debates will rage, as they rightly should, about its current place on the harness racing calendar.

Few would argue that hosting such a prestigious carnival in late spring or early summer makes manifest sense given the revolutionary decision to align Australia’s season with the calendar year.

At the same time, there are many worthwhile arguments for why this series should follow, rather than precede, the Vicbred Super Series given its status as something of an age-driven Grand Final of sorts.

Wonderfully, however, and with due respect to these valid and veracious debates, this year’s edition of the Crown has almost certainly sanctified itself purely through the quality of horseflesh on display.

And, also, the narratives inherent within.

In the pacing ranks, Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin have somehow found a juvenile filly to challenge the deed of Ladies In Red in the form of unbeaten freakshow Major Delight (Bettor’s Delight).

They’ve also produced an heir to Ride High’s throne as arguably the sport’s most marketable commodity in Captain Ravishing, though comparing the two in Clayton’s company won’t be met with kindness.

Then there’s the trotters.

Between them, Harry Stamper, Cravache Dor and Plymouth Chubb may create Saturday evening’s most exciting contest when they lock horns in the Haras des Trotteurs Breeders Crown Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

While in the juvenile ranks, the girls will outline the boys as Rockinwithattitude, Susan Is Her Name and Cognati seek to stake their claim for seasonal supremacy.

Change is hard; always has been and always will be.

Despite this, elite racing with elite horses harbouring elite stories will always win the day, or in this case night, every single time.

IN a perfect world, the bluest of blue riband races on any TAB Breeders Crown card should typically be contested by two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Often this isn’t the case. Saturday night, it is.

Between them, School Captain, The Lost Storm and Captains Knock – among others – represent the future of pacing in this part of the world.

And with their respective draws, Saturday evening’s clash between that trio and their fellow combatants should be something special.

All racing lovers should witness every event at Melton Saturday night via TrotsVision.com.au and SKY Racing.

If you only have one in you, however, make it the IRT Australia Breeders Crown final for baby boys at 8:43pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jason Bonnington, for HRV