The depth of Victoria’s open-class pacers will be on display this weekend with a surge of talent to step out across three big meets.
The headliner is the outstanding class that will contest Saturday night’s Garrards Horse and Hound Bendigo Pacing Cup, including Inter Dominion finalists Triple Eight, who drew gate five, and Spirit Of St Louis (gate two), and returning Phoenix Prince (gate 10).
But the weekend also sees the first of four heats of the Mercury80 series at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday night, when the likes of Fourbigmen, Hashtag and Diamonds N Cash will chase a place in the $50,000 final on Hunter Cup night.
The latter, Andy Gath trained Diamonds N Cash, is also among nominations for Sunday’s Jim Phillips Memorial Cobram Pacing Cup, along with Russell Jack’s pair Blue Chip Delight and Boots Electric and Dean Braun’s Willie Go West.
The latter trialled against Cruz Bromac today and the New Zealand Trotting Cup winner also steps out this weekend. He’ll contest the Simonds Home Bendigo Pace, race eight on the cup-night program that will also feature the likes of Charlton Cup winner Like A Wildfire and Smoken Up Sprint champ Rishi.
It’s a significant depth of racing that will only thicken as the new season draws towards the January 15 Shepparton Cup, January 22 Ballarat Cup and February 5 Hunter Cup, with the likes of Lochinvar Art ready to join the fray.
But before those Cups are run all eyes will draw to the class field in Saturday’s Bendigo Cup, which presents many questions that will may well shape summer.
As mentioned, the $70,000 headliner marks the return of Phoenix Prince, the 2019 Trots Country Cups Champion who hasn’t been seen since his 12th in last year’s Ballarat Cup.
He returns for Emma Stewart along with Demon Delight, who rejoins the stable after a preparation and two starts with Matt Craven that produced sixth and eighth placings.
They’ll meet quality aplenty from the likes of Inter Dominion finalists Spirit Of St Louis (for Belinda McCarthy) and Triple Eight (for Jess Tubbs), while Fouroeight make his Victorian debut fresh from winning the Group 2 Shirley Turnbull Memorial for trainer-driver Matt Rue.
Cranbourne Cup winner Supreme Dominator, Vicbred Super Series place getter Silent Major, improving Rackemup Tigerpie and consistent quartet Tango Tara, Torrid Saint, Rick Reilly and Bettor Be The Bomb complete the field.
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The card also features the Aldebaran Park Maori Mile, with million-dollar trotter Tornado Valley drawing gate one in another field deep with quality, including last start winners Queen Of Crime, Wobelee, stablemate Havehorsewilltravel and Aldebaran Revani all on his outside.
Im Ready Jet has drawn to follow Tornado Valley out and shares the back row with brilliant Kiwi Majestic Man and Sundons Courage.
It means a quality Friday to Sunday of racing action, which can be enjoyed live and free at TrotsVision.com.au
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