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Victoria holds its place firmly in the harness racing spotlight this weekend with Bendigo hosting a nine race Cup card on Saturday evening.
Now worth $70,000 at Group Two level, this year’s edition has an ‘up and comers’ feel about it, with a few looking to break into a regular Grand Circuit slot in 2022 with a forward performance.
The TAB market represents the openness of the contest, with five runners at single figures, headed by New South Wales raider Spirit Of St Louis. Racing with distinction through the Inter Dominion series, he has drawn nicely in gate two which gives his young gun driver Jack Callaghan plenty of options. Speaking of Inter Dominion form, Triple Eight performed superbly throughout the heats of that series, before the tempo of the final put him out of contention from well back. Not being known for his gate speed, the barrier draw is tough although the trip is right to his likening.
Tango Tara holds a trial victory over Lochinvar Art earlier this week and is coming into the contest after his last start win came via the Breeders Crown Graduate Free For All in mid-November.
Despite there being very few Group 1 trotting sprint trot features in Australasia, you can still expect the G1 Maori Mile to be hotly contested as race five on the card. A top-quality line-up features many of the countries best performed trotters, with the clash over the sprint trip including millionaire man, Tornado Valley. Andy Gath has had a strangle hold on this feature in recent years, training four of the last six editions, including the last three running’s. Aldebaran Revani throws plenty of intrigue into the affair, with the American bred mare lighting up Menangle in six straight sprint trip victories, headlined by a 1.52.7 personal best last start.
Next weekend the attention in Victoria turns to Shepparton which is looking likely to be the race return of Lochinvar Art, in front of what will no doubt be a large crowd to welcome back their hometown champ. Ballarat will host their Group 1 Cup on January 22nd, followed by a Melton card featuring the G1 Caduceus Classic and V L Dullard Trotters Cup before an enormous first weekend of February. Friday February 4th will host the Great Southern Star, with the Hunter Cup only 24 hours later as the jewel in the Summer Of Glory’s crown.
Click here to view the fields for Bendigo on Saturday night.
Stylish Memphis has made Menangle her own over the last two seasons, taking two Group One features back to her New Zealand homeland, and she will be looking to add a third again this year.
Running an eye catching fourth in last year’s Chariots Of Fire, she then saluted in the Ladyship Mile a week later before running 6th in the Miracle Mile. Dealing with barrier draws of ten, seven and eight – it was a remarkable month.
Kicking off this campaign in the care of Jack Trainor once again, she will run favourite in Saturday night’s P J Hall FFA at Menangle from a favourable draw of three. Openly commenting that she will be driven in her regular sit/sprint manner to start her path towards the Ladyship Mile on February 26, Trainor expects that she should also improve with each run.
Click here to view the fields for Menangle on Saturday night.
Quality harness racing is highlighted right across the country this weekend with Western Australia and Tasmania also hosting some great open class contests.
As the WA and Freemantle Pacing Cups draw ever closer, the depth to the states free for all ranks is elite and this weekend’s Pat Cranley Memorial is a great entrée to what’s to come over the next month.
Magnificent Storm bounced back into the winner’s circle last week, absorbing intense pressure from Chicago Bull throughout the middle section to hang on and record his first win in three runs back.
Despite a tough effort, Chicago Bull would have lost no admirers after only being beaten 11 metres second up from a spell and is due a change of luck. Drawing the inside of the second row in tonight’s feature, he will again rely on some fortune.
The likes of Hurricane Harley, Minstrel and the ideally drawn Perfect Major amongst others are more than capable of causing an upset in such a deep contest.
Click here to view fields for Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Meanwhile across the Bass Strait, the Hobart Pacing Cup will be run for $40,000 on Sunday evening with a strong local contingent looking to hold off the lone Victorian challenge of Willie Go West.
Luckless on his previous trip to Tasmania when not featuring as favourite in both the Tasmania Cup and Easter Cup under standing start conditions, he will be looking to overcome the outside mobile gate this time around. Trialing on Tuesday at Melton to keep him up to the mark, he ripped home in a 54.8 closing quarter when holding off his returning stablemate Cruz Bromac.
Click here to view fields for Hobart on Sunday.
