Nominations revealed for top Victorian races

A super season of elite Victorian harness racing is set to kick off in stunning style with Grand Circuit champions clamouring for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup.

The release of nominations have confirmed Belinda McCarthy’s King Of Swing and Nathan Purdon’s Amazing Dream are among 24 top tier pacers chasing a place in the $300,000 Group 1 feature, which will headline an elite October 9 card at Bendigo.

Group 1 winners Triple Eight and Wolf Stride and enigmatic General Dodge are also among those to put their names forward to be among the chosen 12, while others like Max Delight, Tango Tara, Torrid Saint and Malcolms Rhythm will press their claims in Saturday night’s TAB Smoken Up Sprint.

Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup nominees: Amazing Dream, Bettor Be The Bomb, Diamonds N Cash, General Dodge, Its Back In The Day, King Of Swing, Mach Dan, Majestic Cruiser, Major Roll, Malcolms Rhythm, Master Moonlite, Max Delight, Out To Play, Pacifico Dream, Rockin Marty, Send It, Sirletic, Tango Tara, Torrid Saint, Triple Eight, Western Sonador, Willie Go West, Wolf Stride, Would You Mind.

The final 12 will be revealed on Monday afternoon at thetrots.com.au in the lead-up to a special 7pm production on TrotsVision, when Jason Bonnington and Nikkita Ross will host the Victoria Cup Night Barrier Draws.

All four Group 1 draws will be held, including for the Lather Up Victoria Derby, the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks and the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint.

The hour-long TrotsVision special will include the draws, the form analysts’ first reactions, TAB.com.au markets and the first word from key participants as the build-up to a super Saturday is on in earnest.

Nominations have also been released for the aforementioned Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters Sprint, with 20 vying for a place in the final field of 10.

Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint nominees: Aldebaran Crescent, Aldebaran Kiri, Aldebaran Tess, Havehorsewilltravel, Im Ready Jet, Imperial Whiz, Lotamuscle, Majestuoso, Maori Law, Margaret Ruth, McLovin, Nephew Of Sonoko, Pink Galahs, Queen Of Crime, Sleepee, Sparkling Success, Sultan Sass, Sundons Courage, Tornado Valley, Zarem.

Final fields for the Victoria Derby and Victoria Oaks will be determined by tomorrow night’s heats at Bendigo, which will be streamed live and free on Trots Vision when caller Dan Mielicki will be joined by Jason Bonnington, Kirsten Graham and Gareth Hall for wall-to-wall coverage.

By Michael Howard for HRV