Race 1 - WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (3YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)

Like most of tonight’s Group 1 deciders this opening Breeders Crown final is a ripper race with a handful of legitimate winning chances. The top-rater from a map perspective (because he leads) and quitter probably from a class perspective as well is former Kiwi commodity STRESS FACTOR (2). He led, booted and clung on in fast time at his first Australian start beating most of his major rivals here before facing Cyclone Tracy down the back straight at Maryborough yet still claiming the Vic Trotters Derby last time out. If he leads as expected whatever beats him will win but as mentioned above there are several potential assassins. Given his ambush artist reputation and the fact he’s almost certain to lob the trailing role Holmfield and Vicbred Super Series champ ANYWHERE HUGO (1) looms as the horse most likely to sprint by STRESS FACTOR (2) but MAJESTIC PLAYER (6) also has the speed and now the strength to sit parked and still go very close as well. There’s probably a decent gap between that top trio and the rest though MAJESTIC COURTNEY (8) has the class and pace to feature if the heavens opened late and the perpetually underrated KYVALLEY FINN (10) can also win without anybody falling off their stools.