Runner-by-runner: Who will conquer the Ballarat Cup?

The PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup has drawn a Group 1 field worthy of the occasion, and the barrier draw has only added spice to the mix.

Let's take a closer look at the 12 that will step on to Bray Raceway tonight, including Jason Bonnington's runner-by-runner comment on who he thinks can rise to the occasion.

Then be sure to tune into TrotsVision.com.au from 6pm tonight, when Nikkita Ross, Rob Auber, Steve Cleave and Gareth Hall will join Dan Mielicki for one of the great night's of Australian trots.

1 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS

RECORD: 35: 15-6-3

STAKES WON: $239,597

AUS GROUP 1s: 4: 0-0-0

AT TRACK: 0: 0-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 4: 2-0-0

GATE WIN %: 12.22%

TRAINER: Belinda McCarthy

DRIVER: Jack Callaghan (Aus G1s: 16: 1-3-2)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $6

“Quality NSW invader looking for an epic clean sweep of Victoria’s January Country Cups. Gate one looks perfect on paper but what happens in the formative furlong will decide his chances tonight.”

2) LOCHINVAR ART

RECORD: 51: 28-15-5

STAKES WON: $1,377,456

AUS GROUP 1s: 15: 7-4-2

AT TRACK: 4: 1-1-2

AUS 2501 METRES+: 8: 4-2-0

GATE WIN %: 12.55%

TRAINER: David Moran

DRIVER: David Moran (Aus G1s: 75: 17-12-7)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $1.90

“Champion pacer who raced out of his skin first-up for almost a year last weekend. He should find the front at some stage but has proven in multiple prior Group 1 successes he can dominate regardless.”

3) MAX DELIGHT

RECORD: 53: 21-5-9

STAKES WON: $706,790

AUS GROUP 1s: 13: 3-0-2

AT TRACK: 2: 1-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 2: 1-0-0

GATE WIN %: 12.32%

TRAINER: David Aiken

DRIVER: Chris Alford (Aus G1s: 753: 124-101-81)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $31

“One of only three Grand Circuit winners engaged, his chances will live and die as the mobile rolls. Should he cross and trail the favourite anything can happen. If his bid is thwarted, he’s in real bother.”

4) MACH DA VINCI

RECORD: 61: 16-11-5

STAKES WON: $245,063

AUS GROUP 1s: 4: 0-0-0

AT TRACK: 1: 0-1-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 8: 0-1-0

GATE WIN %: 13.43%

TRAINER: Peter Hanson

DRIVER: Josh Dickie (Aus G1s: 14: 4-4-1)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $151

“Talented visitor that went well below expectations in last week’s Shepparton Gold Cup. Bouncing back from runs like that is tough in any grade but particularly when tackling the elite in a race like this.”

5) DEMON DELIGHT

RECORD: 28: 11-6-0

STAKES WON: $192,470

AUS GROUP 1s: 7: 0-1-0

AT TRACK: 5: 2-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 2: 0-0-0

GATE WIN %: 13.65%

TRAINER: Emma Stewart

DRIVER: Jodi Quinlan (Aus G1s: 252: 16-25-30)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $151

“There was a lot to like about this one-time emerging star’s Bendigo Cup effort at his first run back with Emma Stewart. Despite that he stills seems outclassed in an even stronger event from a sticky gate.”

6) SUPREME DOMINATOR

RECORD: 51: 13-12-8

STAKES WON: $270,407

AUS GROUP 1s: 1: 0-0-0

AT TRACK: 2: 1-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 2: 1-0-0

GATE WIN %: 13.57%

TRAINER: Joe Pace

DRIVER: James Herbertson (Aus G1s: 46: 2-6-2)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $151

“Draws at the elite level are everything for this vastly improved pacer. If he landed the pole, as he did when winning the Cranbourne Cup, he could land the dais. From out here he’s in the lap of the Gods.”

7) TRIPLE EIGHT

RECORD: 75: 16-13-16

STAKES WON: $483,901

AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 1-1-0

AT TRACK: 0: 0-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 9: 1-1-0

GATE WIN %: 10.65%

TRAINER: Jess Tubbs

DRIVER: Greg Sugars (Aus G1s: 460: 48-49-51)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $31

“Victoria Cup runner-up who bounced back well at Bendigo after failing in the Inter Dominion final. If he rolls forward early, then lands cover in transit, he’s one of few with the class to cause a major upset.”

8) TORRID SAINT

RECORD: 107: 14-18-12

STAKES WON: $232,680

AUS GROUP 1s: 3: 0-0-0

AT TRACK: 9: 1-2-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 5: 0-0-1

GATE WIN %: 11.08%

TRAINER: Julie Douglas

DRIVER: Glenn Douglas (Aus G1s: 26: 1-1-0)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $151

“Sit-sprint specialist with genuine turn of foot whose recent form suggests he’s not quite in the zone. The good news is he’ll receive his favoured economical trip, but sadly that won’t likely be enough.”

9) EXPENSIVE EGO

RECORD: 30: 21-4-1

STAKES WON: $762,317

AUS GROUP 1s: 10: 4-2-1

AT TRACK: 0: 0-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 2: 0-1-0

GATE WIN %: 10.48%

TRAINER: Belinda McCarthy

DRIVER: Luke McCarthy (Aus G1s: 419: 72-49-52)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $2.70

“If Lochinvar Art is the current day champion of Australasian pacing, he may be the waiting heir apparent. Wonderfully tough and freakishly fast, he’s the major danger here but he’ll need some luck.”

10) TANGO TARA

RECORD: 52: 11-14-7

STAKES WON: $223,900

AUS GROUP 1s: 0: 0-0-0

AT TRACK: 2: 1-0-1

AUS 2501 METRES+: 4: 0-0-2

GATE WIN %: 8.57%

TRAINER: Andy Gath

DRIVER: Kate Gath (Aus G1s: 268: 41-43-40)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $71

“Forget his last start effort as he had no fortune. Even with that caveat, he’s one of several runners tonight that live somewhere just beneath Grand Circuit standard and the second-line alley also doesn’t help.”

11) AMAZING DREAM

RECORD: 46: 24-9-8

STAKES WON: $1,398,260

AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 3-0-1

AT TRACK: 0: 0-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 5: 3-2-0

GATE WIN %: 8.18%

TRAINER: Nathan Purdon

DRIVER: Anthony Butt (Aus G1s: 370: 65-50-45)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $26

“Megastar mare who is arguably well placed from this second-row gate given her CV says she’s better off the pace. Reeling in the stars to whom she’ll spot a start won’t be easy, but she’s done it before.”

12) OUR UNCLE SAM

RECORD: 116: 24-18-9

STAKES WON: $702,859

AUS GROUP 1s: 16: 2-4-0

AT TRACK: 5: 0-0-0

AUS 2501 METRES+: 23: 2-6-2

GATE WIN %: 11.32%

TRAINER: Chris Frisby

DRIVER: Anthony Frisby (Aus G1s: 37: 2-5-3)

TAB FIXED ODDS: $151

“One of Australian harness racing’s great modern warriors. It wouldn’t surprise to see him finish in the first half of the field tonight, but any greater aspirations probably aren’t realistic from this draw.”

13) LIKE A WILDFIRE (EM)