Sunday’s time-honoured Volstead Redwood Classic is the annual clash of Australasia’s best juvenile squaregaiters and this edition promises to be no different.

Powderkeg has quickly ascended to the head of the Australian ranks with wins in his first two Victorian starts, which included a strong win in the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series a month ago.

The Lisa Miles-trained son of Muscle Hill is an imposing character on and off the track.

“To sit behind him, he’s just a beautiful trotter. He’s well balanced and the fact that he’s a colt probably adds a bit of spark to him,” Miles said.

“Since he won the Group 1 race at Melton he’s actually gained quite a lot of confidence and he’s trotting well so I’m really happy with him.

“He’s a pretty casual customer, he’s been in a false start from the mobile and he seems to take everything in his stride so hopefully he can do that in a full field on Sunday.”

Originally prepared in South Australia, it was a matter of right place and right time for Miles who took over the training of the two-year-old after he debuted at Port Pirie.

“I’ve trained horses for Geoff Easom on and off for quite a few years now and through my really good friend Jill Nielson who trains for Geoff on a full-time basis,” Miles said.

“The two-year-old trotting races are quite sparse in South Australia so it was probably always likely that he’d come to Victoria.”

For Miles, it will be a special day win, lose or draw. She’ll have a runner earlier in the day in a race named after her Grandfather Alf Simons.

Following a heartbreaking defeat in the Cricket World Cup just a matter of weeks ago, the Kiwis will be looking find some solace in a Group 1 win at Carisbrooke Raceway this Sunday.

Ultimate Stride was green on his Australian debut but he rushed past Powderkeg late when they clashed in what is a key form reference for the feature race on Sunday.

In what looms a particularly deep edition of the Redwood Classic, almost every horse has winning claims.

New South Wales trainer Blake Fitzpatrick has put big wraps on Gimondi, who will begin from barrier three, while Im Daddy Warbucks was one of the runs of the race in the Vicbred Super Series final.

Andover Sun and Dublin Chubb both have their fair share of ability however it would be folly to count out Is That A Bid, who is already a Group 1 winner this season.

TAB bookmakers opened Ultimate Stride the $2.10 fixed odds favourite with Im Daddy Warbucks ($5), Powderkeg ($5.50) and Andover Sun ($10) the others well represented early doors.

Value punters have been keen to play early with Dublin Chubb ($31-$18) and Pink Galahs ($21-$15) both supported.

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