Great Southern Star live updates

Great Southern Star Heat 1

Victorian trotter Rules Dont Apply made amends for his last start to win the first heat of harness racing’s Great Southern Star at Melton tonight.

After breaking gait at the same track six days prior, the son of Muscle Hill made a late burst to take out the $50,000 qualifier by a narrow margin.

Trainer-driver Anthony Crossland nursed Rules Dont Apply to be behind the leader and from there the gelding showed a quick turn of speed to chase down the leader Tornado Valley by a short half-head.

They clocked 1:57.4 with Woblee finishing third and also progressing to the $300,000 final in three hours time.

“That was good,” said Crossland.

“They were going so slow and the change of speed happened so quick it took a bit for him to find his feet.”

When asked what will Crossland do with his trotter in the three hours before the final he said: “Pray to God.”

Great Southern Star Heat 2

Three seconds faster than the first heat is what New Zealand trotter Temporale went to win the second heat of the Great Southern Star tonight.

The nine-year-old Monarchy gelding clocked 1:54.6 to secure his spot in the $300,000 final in two-and-a-half hours time.

Driven by Greg Sugars, Temporale quickly rounded up the initial leader Aldebaran Revani to hit the lead a long way from home.

Im Ready Jet finished a gallant second after galloping away at the start and making up a lot of ground and Aldebaran Crescent was third.

Trainer Brent Lilley is conditioning Temporale during this Australian campaign for trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.

“He’s been a great horse for a number of years and he showed that tonight,” said Lilley.

“We’ll keep him wrapped in cotton wool until the final.

“We’ll keep him walking, keep him warm . . . it’s a bit of a guessing game, it’s the first time he has done this but he’s been around for as long as I have so should be fine.

“The horses in the first heat have the advantage with soft runs and the extra 30 minutes of recovery.”

DRAMA!
What a wild ride the second What The Hill Great Southern Star heat was as Temporale salutes for Greg Sugars ahead of Im Ready Jet, who galloped at the start, Aldebaran Crescent and Majestuoso, who was boxed in till late. Wow! #SOG22
Draw coming up: https://t.co/3dhO1tM23f pic.twitter.com/GlJCVyKAiA

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 4, 2022

The draw for the $300,000 Great Southern Star Final is:

1. Wobelee
2. Powderkeg
3. Queen Of Crime
4. Majestuoso
5. Aldebaran Crescent
6. Tornado Valley
7. Temporale
   …… Second row …..
8. The Penny Drops
9. Rules Dont Apply
10. Im Ready Jet

Behind the scenes heading into the $300,000 Great Southern Star Final

Leading trainer Andy Gath chats with Gareth Hall about Majestuoso and Tornado Valley ahead of his bid for a fourth What The Hill Great Southern Star at 10.32pm.
The drama continues at https://t.co/p8SlwkvsDr pic.twitter.com/8EOqxdB1Kq

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 4, 2022

"She's good," says Anton Golino of Im Ready Jet after a massive run in her What The Hill Great Southern Star heat, including an early miss-step that will have her out of the draw in the final. He caught up with Gareth Hall.
Draw coming up next. #SOG22 pic.twitter.com/qXzAcQcuXP

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 4, 2022

Majestuoso wins it!
A fourth What The Hill Great Southern Star for Andy and Kate Gath – AMAZING!
Their champ holds off a brave Wobelee to join Glenferrie Typhoon and Tornado Valley as GSS champs! #SOG22 pic.twitter.com/VTkt6GxoYE

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 4, 2022

The $300,000 Great Southern Star Final

Power harness racing couple Andy and Kate Gath know what it takes to win Australia’s biggest trot race – the $300,000 Great Southern Star.

The training and driving combination had won three of the nine previous editions and added a fourth success in the Grand Circuit event at Melton tonight courtesy of Majestuoso.

“I keep thinking it can’t happen again and it keeps happening . . . it’s just been our race,” said Kate following the victory.

Andy was just as elated: “It’s such a great race and to win it four times and for our owner Norm Jenkin, it’s a great feeling.”

With the barrier draw taking place and hour-a-half before the final, Andy picked barrier four for Majestuoso.

From there the six-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son led all the way and fended off all his rivals in a race record of 1:54.6.

That is an identical mile rate run in Majestuoso’s Great Southern Star heat two-and-a-half hours before.

Majestuoso was a fast-finishing fourth in his heat to Temporale after gaining a clear run late.

When it came to the final, however, Majestuoso faced no traffic as he dictated terms and rolled through the sectionals in 27.8, 30.6, 28.8 and 28.2 seconds.

“It’s good to get another one tonight,” said Kate.

“He did get up on the bit during that second quarter when Temporale moved to his outside.

“I have so much respect for Wobelee with him on my back, he is so quick and usually doesn’t get a run like that.”

Wobelee, for driver Chris Alford, was behind the leader and finished a head away in second with Im Ready Jet in third place.

Majestuoso extended his record to 24 wins in 48 starts and tonight’s mile rate was a personal best.

To view the results from Melton on Friday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink