The first $20,000 Mercury80 heat will be contested tomorrow night at Tabcorp Park Melton in front of a huge crowd and leading trainer Andy Gath has two horses engaged.
Gath is a big supporter of sprint racing and applauded the Mercury80 concept.
“Especially going into a $50,000 final,” Gath told RSN’s Gait Speed today.
“I love having horses race in these races, I love watching them and I like betting on them. I think it’s a great concept.”
Gath has Van Mara and Konan engaged in the Mercury80 first heat from barriers seven and three respectively.
Konan is an enigma. A former highly talented three-year-old, the son of Mach Three hasn’t been able to recapture his form in recent preparations and his trials this time in suggest anything could happen tomorrow night.
“He’s had three trials and all three have been completely different. The first trial he galloped out, the second trial he pulled his head off and set up a 1:52 mile rate and got tired, and his next trial he pulled really hard and threw his head around, but he did finish off really good,” Gath said.
“He got home in about 26.5 his last quarter and he trialled against Liftntorque and probably trialled equal to him.”
The first two horses over the line in each Mercury80 heat will automatically gain entry into the January 25, $50,000 Group 2 final.
Following tomorrow night’s opener, heats will be held on January 4, January 10 and January 17.
The fastest horse in the series will receive an additional $20,000 bonus, and any horse who breaks 80 seconds and wins will pocket an extra $8000.
“I think they can (break 80 seconds),” Gath said.
“Especially if you get two horses who really want to lead… if that first 200m is really solid and then they keep running from there.
“Coastal was a really nice horse and he nearly did it. The track’s faster now and the horses are faster now, so I’m sure it can be done.”
Tomorrow night's Mercury80 heat will be run at 8pm.
Meanwhile, Trots Vision turbocharging the coverage of tomorrow night’s Melton New Year’s Eve meeting, with Cody Winnell in the parade ring before each race for the last word in addition to Rob Auber’s post-race interviews with the winners.