There has never been a Victorian raid quite like this one.
The sheer depth of quality across the pacers and trotters of all chasing the seven major races during the Queensland Constellations is something to behold.
At a time when the headwinds in Victoria are strong and challenging, it is an important reminder of the quality we boast across horses, trainers and drivers.
Simply, Victoria remains a backbone of the biggest carnivals, like the next three weekends at Albion Park.
Sure, we are stronger in some ages and races than others, but Victorian-trained horses are a genuine chance to win five of the seven biggest races.
Those big seven are the Inter Dominion pacing and trotting finals (July 18), the Rising Sun (Saturday night), Great Square (Saturday night), Protostar (July 11), Queensland Oaks (July 18) and Queensland Derby (July 18).
So, where are we strongest? It’s close between the Inter Dominion trotting series and the Protostar.
Owing the presence of local superstar Gus as a hot favourite in the trotting series, the Protostar – a race Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin won last year with Loucasso – is the “major” we are most likely to win.
Half the field are set to be Victorians, including three for Stewart and Tonkin (Comeandsee, Cardigan Jem and Kahula).
The other headline Victorian is one of the stories of the year Courtney Barton’s Nutrien 2YO final winner, Smack Bang Bart.
Allan McDonough’s unbeaten filly Ideal Frankie has snagged a berth, too.
Victoria is and always will be the home of the trotter in Australia and that’s underlined with our enormous representation from a variety of stables in this year’s Inter Dominion.
We’ve won the past two Inter Dominion trotting finals run at Albion Park, with the great Just Believe in 2023 and Arcee Phoenix last year.
Arcee Phoenix returns to defend his crown as one of four or five runners that trainer Chris Svanosio will have, the other key runner amongst them being the emerging Lovemeto.
Despite Team Lee’s two stable stars Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini missing the series, they still have a genuine contender in Keayang Stuka, who was raw and largely unknown when he ran third in the Sydney 2024 final.
David Miles’ star mare Rocknwithattitude, last year’s heat winner Parisian Artiste and the evergreen and underrated Im Bobby are other Victorians who command respect.
Victoria also holds a powerhouse hand in the Great Square with three of the first four favourites in Mecarno, Tracy The Jet and Jilliby Dreamlover. Russell Jack’s stable newbie Crackerjack is right in the mix, too.
A twist came over the weekend when hot pre-post favourite Arrhythmia was ruled-out of the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (July 18).
But Tonkin and Stewart will still have two key runners in the Oaks with Bettor Beach, who thrashed a moderate field at Melton last Friday, and the classy Pre Eminant.
They will also have three runners – Brooklyn Dan, Cardigan Dan and Dynamitedan – in the wide-open Queensland Derby.
The towering Leap To Fame means the Victorians – including Bay Of Biscay, War Dan Buddy, Fighter Command, Oliver Dan and maybe Fox Dan – are probably running for minor money in the Inter Dominion pacing final.
Fox Dan would need to win the Rising Sun on Saturday night and jag the golden ticket to contest the Inter Dominion.
As good as he is, this is a genuinely epic Rising Sun field and the preferential draw means a four-year-old boy like him won’t draw well. He’s probably just a place chance.
What a few weeks it’s going to be and, excitingly, you’ll be able to watch it all, fully showcased and hosted by HRV’s Ryan Phelan on 7Plus as well as Grand Final night (July 18) on free-to-air 7Two.
Bring it on.
