It's the richest trotting race on Australian soil and, with the $300,000 What The Hill Great Southern Star returning to a heats into final format the drama's set to be greater than ever.
Here's a runner-by-runner guide of tonight's hopefuls, complete with Jason Bonnington's analysis of their chance.
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HEAT ONE: RACE 3 @ 7.22pm at TABCORP PARK MELTON
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1 FEAR NOT
RECORD: 218: 7-32-35
STAKES WON: $178,495
AUS GROUP 1s: 15: 0-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 30: 0-4-1
GATE WIN %: 11.25
TRAINER: Glenn Conroy
DRIVER: Glenn Conroy (Aus G1s 42: 0-1-1)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $151; Final $301
One of the most durable trotting mares in recent memory, this girl draws perfectly for racing pattern in gate one but still appears severely outclassed. Rate her as a small chance to make the final only.
2 TOUGH MONARCH
RECORD: 75: 23-4-11
STAKES WON: $360,939
AUS GROUP 1s: 14: 0-1-3
TRACK/DISTANCE: 5: 1-1-1
GATE WIN %: 10.63
TRAINER: Rickie Alchin
DRIVER: Anthony Butt (Aus G1s 343: 62-46-43)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $2.30; Final $15
The Great Southern Star’s only NSW entrant this bloke has a huge role to play through tonight’s series. He is drawn to lead and win at heat level, and will need to do so if any hope of claiming the final.
3 WELL DEFINED
RECORD: 67: 11-12-5
STAKES WON: $94,386
AUS GROUP 1s: 1: 0-0-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 1: 0-0-0
GATE WIN %: 10.47
TRAINER: Kate Hargreaves
DRIVER: Ellen Tormey (Aus G1s 31: 0-3-0)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $126; Final $151
Kate Hargreaves adores this guy and at his best he’s not totally out of place racing at this level. That being said, he will need all the breaks to go his way for a top-five finish and a place in the decider.
4 MAGICOOL
RECORD: 45: 18-6-5
STAKES WON: $244,395
AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 2-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 6: 3-1-2
GATE WIN %: 10.95
TRAINER: Rob O’Connell
DRIVER: Zac Phillips (Aus G1s 74: 10-6-9)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $4.60; Final $13
Most felt this former young star was a light of other days but he has thrived under the care of Robbie O’Connell. He should lob a perfect spot in heat one and can win the final with a perfect gate.
5 MCLOVIN
RECORD: 81: 27-14-5
STAKES WON: $403,068
AUS GROUP 1s: 8: 2-0-2
TRACK/DISTANCE: 6: 4-0-1
GATE WIN %: 15.56
TRAINER: Andy Gath
DRIVER: Kate Gath (Aus G1s 224: 34-31-33)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $3.70; Final $5.50
It’s no exaggeration to say Andy Gath’s former Kiwi is one of the toughest and most competitive beasts we’ve seen in recent years. If a local is to win this GSS he is the candidate most likely.
6 IMPERIAL WHIZ
RECORD: 129: 17-14-13
STAKES WON: $169,932
AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 0-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 10: 2-1-2
GATE WIN %: 12.88
TRAINER: Danny Mullan
DRIVER: Jodi Quinlan (Aus G1s 238: 14-24-30)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $151; Final $301
Victoria’s regional racing period brought out the best in this bloke but he has struggled since the big guns all returned. Based on recent form and his very poor draw he’s a minor player at very best.
7 WOBELEE
RECORD: 49: 23-13-4
STAKES WON: $419,699
AUS GROUP 1s: 11: 5-2-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 7: 5-0-1
GATE WIN %: 9.47
TRAINER: Alison Alford
DRIVER: Chris Alford (Aus G1s 706: 115-93-78)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $18; Final $51
On his day Alison Alford’s former juvenile freak is a force to be reckoned with but he’s badly out of sorts of late. Qualification for tonight’s final wouldn’t surprise but he’d need rapid improvement.
8 ALWAYS READY
RECORD: 24: 15-4-1
STAKES WON: $227,590
AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 2-2-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 3: 1-1-0
GATE WIN %: 12.23
TRAINER: Anton Golino & Jack MacKinnon
DRIVER: Jason Lee (Aus G1s 100: 14-10-11)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $12; Final $15
Rolling out in front this young star looks like he could be anything, but poor draws have cruelled his transition to the elite level. Should he qualify and draw perfectly then he’s a smoky for the final.
9 RED HOT TOOTH
RECORD: 85: 24-17-13
STAKES WON: $497,835
AUS GROUP 1s: 26: 4-5-3
TRACK/DISTANCE: 11: 4-3-1
GATE WIN %: 11.24
TRAINER: Kari Males
DRIVER: Kerryn Manning (Aus G1s 332: 32-28-29)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $8; Final $17
A grand mare with multiple Group 1 wins, it just seems this old girl is a half-step of her peak at present. Adding to her troubles is a draw that removes her brilliant gate speed, so this looks tough.
HEAT TWO: RACE 4 @ 7.52pm at TABCORP PARK MELTON
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1 ANDYOU
RECORD: 59: 13-10-3
STAKES WON: $126,820
AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 0-1-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 5: 0-0-1
GATE WIN %: 11.25
TRAINER: Wes Shellie
DRIVER: James Herbertson (Aus G1s 29: 1-5-1)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $101; Final $101
Wes Shellie’s pocket rocket is better suited to long-trip stand-start racing but gets an ideal draw to offset that fact. If things pan out perfectly she’s a very small chance of qualifying for the final.
2 TORNADO VALLEY
RECORD: 99: 35-15-13
STAKES WON: $775,617
AUS GROUP 1s: 13: 8-2-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 5: 3-0-0
GATE WIN %: 10.63
TRAINER: Andy Gath
DRIVER: DRIVER: Kate Gath (Aus G1s 224: 34-31-33)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $6; Final $15
This eight-time Group 1-winning superstar only narrowly won his race against time to be here and won’t be at his best. He has surprised before but success in this series would be his magnum opus.
3 IM READY JET
RECORD: 20: 11-1-2
STAKES WON: $184,810
AUS GROUP 1s: 5: 3-0-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 1: 1-0-0
GATE WIN %: 10.47
TRAINER: Anton Golino and Jack MacKinnon
DRIVER: Jason Lee (Aus G1s 100: 14-10-11)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $8.50; Final $12
The reverential tones that Anton Golino uses when discussing this young mare sends shivers down the spine. She rises wildly in grade here but a big heat run will have tongues wagging for the final.
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4 JUST BELIEVE
RECORD: 24: 7-4-2
STAKES WON: $69,390
AUS GROUP 1s: 3: 0-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 2: 1-0-0
GATE WIN %: 10.95
TRAINER: Michael Hughes
DRIVER: Rodney Petroff (Aus G1s 122: 1-6-8)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $61; Final $151
At different times this young gun has promised the world but at this stage he’s still beneath the best. With perfect fortune he can threaten to qualify, but tough to see him playing a role at the pointy end.
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5 MAJESTIC MAN
RECORD: 50: 16-17-7
STAKES WON: $434,912
AUS GROUP 1s: 2: 1-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 0: 0-0-0
GATE WIN %: 15.56
TRAINER: Phil Williamson
DRIVER: Brad Williamson (1: 1-0-0)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $1.35; Final $1.60
Without doubt tonight’s Great Southern Star is this guy’s to lose. The only Kiwi trotter engaged, he destroyed his rivals and the timepiece last weekend and can only be upended by a second line draw in final.
6 DYNAMIC LEGACY
RECORD: 70: 7-12-12
STAKES WON: $75,085
AUS GROUP 1s: 2: 0-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 12: 1-6-4
GATE WIN %: 12.88
TRAINER: Michael Watt
DRIVER: Greg Sugars (Aus G1s 413: 42-44-47)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $151; Final $301
Even with a perfect draw this lovable journeyman would have struggled to make the Great Southern Star decider and from gate six he’s in all sorts. Watch for him to go back and look for shortcuts throughout.
7 ROBBIE ROYALE
RECORD: 66: 11-6-10
STAKES WON: $97,840
AUS GROUP 1s: 1: 0-0-0
TRACK/DISTANCE: 1: 0-0-0
GATE WIN %: 9.47
TRAINER: Brent Lilley
DRIVER: Chris Alford (Aus G1s 706: 115-93-78)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $126; Final $151
A talented former Kiwi, this guy has been robbed of having any influence on series by his wide heat alley. He is another that will make up the numbers and look for something easier next start.
8 PINK GALAHS
RECORD: 19: 13-2-2
STAKES WON: $188,220
AUS GROUP 1s: 6: 3-0-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 4: 3-0-0
GATE WIN %: 12.23
TRAINER: Matthew Craven
DRIVER: Matthew Craven (Aus G1s 75: 7-4-7)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $8.50; Final $7.50
No horse had a bigger influence on Aussie trotting ranks than this girl late last season. She’s already proven she’s up to this class but arrives here bereft of recent racing, which looks a major concern.
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9 SUNDONS COURAGE
RECORD: 100: 22-16-9
STAKES WON: $301,865
AUS GROUP 1s: 16: 1-3-1
TRACK/DISTANCE: 12: 1-4-0
GATE WIN %: 11.24
TRAINER: Brad Angove
DRIVER: Ryan Duffy (Aus G1s 27: 0-1-1)
TAB FIXED ODDS: Heat $9; Final $31
From a sectional perspective this speedster looks on the cusp of something great but always finds one or two better. His heat draw is not as bad as it looks and, who knows, with a perfect alley in final…