New South Wales champion King Of Swing has drawn barrier one for Saturday night's Grand Circuit Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup.
Securing the inside front row marble saw Belinda McCarthy's two-time Australian Harness Horse of the Year firm into an odds-on favourite for the $500,000 Group 1 feature at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The draws were conducted live on TrotsVision with last weekend's Casey Classic winner Triple Eight landing alongside King Of Swing in barrier two, while reigning Hunter Cup champion Lochinvar Art scored gate six.
Superstar mare Amazing Dream has barrier eight, meaning she will follow out King Of Swing.
The TAB reported strong support for Nathan Purdon's charge, who was quickly backed from $5.50 into $4.80.
McCarthy-trained Spirit Of St Louis, who has been in superb form of late with wins in the Bendigo, Shepparton and Ballarat cups, is drawn barrier four.
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Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup (February 5)
- King Of Swing
- Triple Eight
- Our Uncle Sam
- Spirit Of St Louis
- Phoenix Prince
- Lochinvar Art
- Expensive Ego
- Amazing Dream
- Mach Dan
- Willie Go West
- Supreme Dominator (Emergency)
- Malcolms Rhythm
- Max Delight
The What The Hill Great Southern Star heat draws were also conducted, with Andy Gath's champion Tornado Valley getting barrier one for the opening qualifier as he attempts to snare a third successive win in Australia’s greatest trotting race.
Anton Golino-trained Im Ready Jet secured barrier one in the second of the GSS heats.
The first three placed horses in each heat will automatically progress to the final, while the remaining four qualifiers will be determined based on the gross time of each unplaced runner from the heats.
What The Hill Great Southern Star Heat 1 (February 4)
- Tornado Valley
- Lotamuscle
- Sundons Courage
- Wobelee
- Always Ready
- Hatchback (Emergency)
- Tough Monarch
- Rules Dont Apply
- Caligula
- Vacation Hill
- Keayang Livana
What The Hill Great Southern Star Heat 2 (February 4)
- Im Ready Jet
- Majestuoso
- Hatchback (Emergency)
- The Penny Drops
- Temporale
- Aldebaran Crescent
- Aldebaran Revani
- Illawong Stardust
- Majestic Man
- Queen Of Crime
- Powderkeg