Grand Prix to feature on Breed for Speed night

Australia's premier all-trotting night will next year showcase the Seelite Windows and Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix, strengthening the metropolitan squaregait celebration.

The $100,000 Group 1 feature will be staged on Saturday, March 11, amid the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed night, which features the culmination of Harness Racing Victoria's Teal Pants Promotion in aid of the Women's Cancer Foundation.

With all races to be beamed into European markets, night proponent Duncan McPherson, principal of Aldebaran Park, said the Group 1's addition would ensure the region's best trotters would be on show.

"The internationalisation of the sport continues to advance our industry and nights like this show to the world the trotting gait is alive and well," Mr McPherson said.

"In races such as the Grand Prix, Need for Speed and Breed for Speed finals you will see horses cracking two minutes and it will no doubt enhance opportunities going forward."

The Seelite Windows and Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix last year featured as part of the Summer of Glory on Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup night, but next year's staging on March 11 will see it run in addition to the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed and Need for Speed finals.

The move follows the transfer of the Group 1 $300,000 Pryde's Easifeed Great Southern Star to February 4, the night of the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup, having previously been scheduled on the all-trotting night.

The Summer of Glory will retain two free-for-all features, with the $50,000 Haras Des Trotteurs V. L. Dullard Cup to now run on Victoria Cup night (January 28) ahead of the super Saturday (February 4) featuring the $500,000 Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup and $300,000 Pryde's Easifeed Great Southern Star.

The bolstering of the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed night was welcomed by trots owner Michael Taranto, managing director of Seelite Windows and Doors, which sponsors the Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

"Previously the Great Southern Star was the showcase free-for-all, but it has been moved as part of the Summer of Glory carnival and HRV has been good enough to reallocate a metro free-for-all trot to the night in the Seelite Windows and Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix," Mr Taranto said.

"From a sponsor's point of view I'm extremely happy with that and it's a great result that the Seelite Windows and Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix will be showcased on one of only two metro all-trotting race nights of the year (the other being the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Trotting Finals night).

"It also features the culmination of the month of teal in recognition of the cancer foundation and to be associated with that as well is fantastic."

Mr McPherson said women's health would be front and centre through the night's support of the Women's Cancer Foundation, which includes female drivers wearing teal pants from February 1 to March 11 to raise awareness and money.

"This gives Harness Racing Victoria a massive opportunity to expose itself to the community and be a parent group in raising awareness around women's health," Mr McPherson said.

The above schedule changes are subject to ratification at the Harness Racing Australia meeting on Friday.

Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)