Fields for Victoria Cup, Bill Collins Trotters Sprint

The stars are set for the 2024 Sportsbet Victoria Cup and just one more piece of the harness racing puzzle remains before the running of the Grand Circuit classic this Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.

Harness Racing Victoria handicappers settled the field of 12 on Monday afternoon, with defending champion Act Now joined by Mach Dan and Perfect Class as the three Emma Stewart-trained runners in the $300,000 event. Reigning New Zealand Cup champ Swayzee was one of four from the Jason Grimson barn.

Other Grimson starters include District Attorney, Major Moth and Nerano, with stablemate Curly James emergency.

Queensland megastar Leap To Fame has been a firm favourite for the Cup since betting opened and warmed up for his second tilt at the race with victory in last weekend’s Smoken Up Sprint. He is one of six interstate raiders, including David Aiken’s 2021 Cup winner Max Delight.

Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs), Captain Ravishing (Freddy Taiba) and Catch A Wave (Andy Gath) are the other three pacers to make the cut.

FIELD

VICTORIA CUP

ACT NOW (Somebeachsomewhere) (Emma Stewart)

BETTER ECLIPSE (Betterthancheddar) (Jess Tubbs)

CAPTAIN RAVISHING (Captaintreacherous) (Freddy Taiba)

CATCH A WAVE (Captaintreacherous) (Andy Gath)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY (Courage Under Fire) (Jason Grimson)

LEAP TO FAME (Bettor’s Delight) (Grant Dixon)

MACH DAN (Mach Three) (Emma Stewart)

MAJOR MOTH (Art Major) (Jason Grimson)

MAX DELIGHT (Bettor’s Delight) (David Aiken)

NERANO (Tintin In America) (Jason Grimson)

PERFECT CLASS (Captaintreacherous) (Emma Stewart)

SWAYZEE (Rock N Roll Heaven) (Jason Grimson)

CURLY JAMES (A Rocknroll Dance) (Jason Grimson) (1st Em)

The all-important barrier draw for the 2240m feature will take place on Sky Racing tomorrow morning from 9am, as will that of the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint.

Squaregaiting giants Just Believe and Callmethebreeze are part of the Bill Collins field and will lock horns for the fifth time in their careers.

Just Believe, a two-time Inter Dominion winner and one of the sport’s greatest ever trotting names, holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over his great rival, who landed a major blow back in February when he beat him in a thrilling Great Southern Star Final.

Since then, the Jess Tubbs-trained Just Believe has secured wins over the now Gath-prepared Callmethebreeze in the Australian Trotting Grand Prix and TAB Trot slot race in New Zealand.

FIELD

BILL COLLINS TROTTERS SPRINT

ALDEBARAN ZEUS (Muscle Hill) (Brent Lilley)

ARCEE PHOENIX (Trixton) (Chris Svanosio)

CALLMETHEBREEZE (Trixton) (Andy Gath)

HARRY STAMPER (Majestic Son) (Joe Pace)

IM READY JET (Quaker Jet) (Andy Gath)

JUST BELIEVE (Orlando Vici) (Jess Tubbs)

KEAYANG CHUCKY (Love You) (Paddy Lee)

MUFASA METRO (Father Patrick) (John Justice)

OLLIVICI (Orlando Vici) (Chris Lang/Sonia Mahar)

QUEEN ELIDA (Love You)(Brent Lilley)

ONE OVER ALL (Angus Hall) (Jess Tubbs) (1st Em)

Ryan Phelan and Brittany Graham will host the barrier draw coverage, with Gath to join them as a special guest on Sky’s The Morning Line.

The Vic Cup and Bill Collins are among six Group 1 events on Saturday night’s Melton card, with the elite-level Benstud Queen Of The Pacific, Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby Final, Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks Final and Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks also part of the line-up.

The October 12 meeting will be shown on Sky Racing, with a special free-to-air broadcast on Racing.com’s channels 68 and 78.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria