The TAB Summer of Glory will simmer through another stunning Saturday night of trots as the path to the February 4 and 5 Grand Circuit Group 1s looks set to bring more big duels and memorable moments.

Every step matters for those hopeful of obtaining starts in the What The Hill Great Southern Star and Del-Re National A. G Hunter Cup, with this Saturday’s return to Tabcorp Park Melton presenting as a key launching pad for those knocking on the door.

In addition to the Group 1 VHRC Caduceus 3YO Classic, Night Two of the TAB Summer of Glory also features the Allied Express Casey Classic and TAB V L Dullard Trotters Cup.

The $50,000 free-for-alls will pit Grand Circuit stars against others trying to prove themselves worthy of a tilt at a Group 1.

That includes the likes of Expensive Ego and Triple Eight, who will start from gates nine and seven respectively in the middle-distance Casey Classic off the back of top five finishes in Saturday’s thrilling Ballarat Cup.

While they’ll likely be prominent in betting markets, much interest will also surround the likes of Torrid Saint, Western Sonador, Bettor Be The Bomb, Like A Wildfire and Rackemup Tigerpie who, with victory or at least a bold showing, could buy a ticket to the $500,000 Hunter Cup on February 5.

Similarly, Tough Monarch, Majestuoso, Wobelee, returning Kiwi Temporale (pictured) and ever consistent Sundons Courage are prominent on the front line of the Group 1 Dullard Cup, but it’s a race of depth with Illawong Stardust, Lotamuscle, Always Ready and Havehorsewilltravel to name a few.

While two fields of 10 will contest the Great Southern Star heats before the final’s drawn and run on February 4, it will be no easy task getting among the top 20 squaregaiters with the likes of Im Ready Jet, Maori Law, Majestic Man and Tornado Valley among the many also likely to feature.

It all means much is at stake this Saturday night.

The main cash prize will come in the $100,000 VHRC Caduceus 3YO Classic, with Heza Son Of Agun and Solesseo Matuca, first and second respectively in the Vicbred Super Series final, to renew acquaintances.

Also prominent is Breeders Crown semi-final winner Interest Free in gate one, directly inside relatively late bloomer Captain Ravishing, who’ll be out to defend his unbeaten record in the Classic, which fills the gap previously occupied by the Victoria Derby and Oaks before their shift to October.

The night also features The Breakthrough Pace Final, with heat winners Kimble (gate three) and Ilikemebettor (gate four) both prominently drawn, and the fourth and final heat of the All In One Property Mercury80.

The latter’s drawn an outstanding field ahead of the February 5 $50,000 final, with Belinda McCarthy sending 1:49.0 speed machine Cash N Flow south for the dash, while Boots Electric (gate one) also looks well placed amid a terrific crop.

There’s extra incentive for the crew to go helter skelter. The first two home qualify for places in the Mercury80 final on Hunter Cup night, but there’s also a third finals spot potentially in the offing.

Thus far La Puddie and Hashtag (heat one), Ozzie Battler and Jean Luc (heat two) and Love Ina Chevy (heat three) have recorded top two heat finishes to earn their finals places. However, because Ozzie Battler finished second in heat three and had already qualified, the fastest third placing from the series will also advance to the final.

At present that is Jilliby Bandit, who was third in the second heat, which stopped the clock in 82.2 seconds.

The nine-race card at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night follows the Cranbourne Dualcodes Night on Friday, when seven trots races will share the spotlight with the gallops.

Then on Sunday it’s the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup and Insurance House Wedderburn Trotters Cup, both $14,500 affairs with trainer Greg Norman taking a strong stable the 20 minutes up the road from his Charlton base.

He has Belladonna Girl and Zadaka in the pacing cup and Blue Coman among the trotters cup, part of an eight-race card.