Following fabulous Face Time Bourbon’s second consecutive conquest of the Prix d’Amerique, the world trotting spotlight turns to Australia.
More specifically it centres on Tabcorp Park Melton, in Melbourne, Victoria, for the running of the What The Hill Great Southern Star on Friday night (February 5).
The ninth renewal of the illustrious race, Australasia’s premier event for trotters, sees the Great Southern Star revert to its original format – two Group 1, $50,000 heats into a $300,000 Group 1 Final on the same night.
The format sees the top three placegetters in each of the two heats receive automatic qualification into the Final, with the remaining four starters in the Final the fastest unplaced horses in the heats.
The all-important barrier draws for the Great Southern Star heats will take place tomorrow morning at 10am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) and will be broadcast live on Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Facebook page.
Form analyst and harness racing broadcaster Jason Bonnington will be joined by former Swedish monte rider turned Australian harness racing driver Kima Frenning, and they will take viewers through the barrier draws for the big race.
The Great Southern Star is a key component of Victoria’s new Aurora Australis series of races, designed to attract international participation in Victoria in coming years.
New Zealand’s Majestic Man rocketed up Great Southern Star calculations on Saturday night with a track record-breaking 1:55.4 performance at Melton to obliterate his rivals in the TAB V L Dullard Trotters Cup, winning by over 10 metres.
