The best trotters in Australia and New Zealand were showcased in the inaugural Aurora Australis, an eight-race series that concluded with a thrilling $100,000 TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton.
Carrying $680,000 in prizemoney and a $50,000 bonus for the highest points scorer, the series has been acclaimed an overwhelming success by harness racing pundits.
With an expected lift in basic prizemoney and bonuses, the Aurora Australis could be the lynchpin to lure the best square-gaiters from Europe and North America to compete in Australia in the years to come.
Over the years there has been a trickle of international stars such as Finnish pair Kvintet Avenger and Daryl Boko and Ridgehead Cahore from Sweden taking on Australia’s best in the Great Southern Star.
However, Harness Racing Victoria’s new trotting carnival featuring eight Group 1 events over two months during the northern hemisphere winter, could be the carrot to lure international invaders to travel down under.
Duncan McPherson, the driving force behind the Aurora Australis concept, said: “The inaugural running of the Aurora Australis – the series of feature trotting races over the Summer Carnival, has no doubt established a destination point as Harness Racing Victoria continues its quest to attract international horses to the southern hemisphere as it continues its strategy to internationalise and globalise the sport here in Victoria.
“To have the first running of the series go to the last race and to be decided by the barest of margins as Majestuoso held off the fast finishing Im Ready Jet provided a thrilling finale for all participants and patrons trackside.
“I’m sure that with increased exposure of the series and the freedom of travel as we head to 2023 the series will go from strength to strength.”
Bring on Aurora Australis 2023.
