Champion trainer Emma Stewart boasts over 2000 career wins and three top chances in tonight’s inaugural Mercury80 Final at Melton.
Melton’s Richie Caruana has trained 13 lifetime winners and has one 50-1 shot tonight who some key trots judges believe is flying under the radar.
Off The Radar has already taken Caruana, 47, on the ride of his career and it goes to another level tonight when the seven-year-old stallion starts from gate three in the $50,000, 1200m sprint.
“This is absolutely a highlight,” he said.
“It’s a thrill to be in it to be honest. We don’t have much of a chance to be in races like this. He’s the only horse we have going to the races for us right now.
“I’m not going to kid myself, there are some really, really nice horses there. I’m just happy to be in the race honestly. You never know.”
Off The Radar won his heat in 84.3secs, the slowest of the heat winners but his run-on-late racing style looks suited to the 1200m races.
Any view that “leaders always win over 1200m” is uninformed. Fact is the majority of 1200m races have been won by run-on types over the years in the annual Stampede, while just one of the Mercury80 heats was taken out by a leader.
The Mercury80 concept has been successful with full fields for every race and a heightened engagement through on-track promotions.
Harness Racing Victoria’s Mercury80 on-track promotion will see one racegoer win a $4000 travel voucher, while everyone on track will receive a card in the colours of a Mercury80 runner, and if their horse wins they score a free drink.
“Fan engagement is really important and this is what this series is all about – fast, exciting and fun,” HRV General Manager of Racing Stephen Bell said.
Stewart-trained Fourbigmen set the quickest heat time at 82.1secs, placing the four-year-old in the box seat for the $20,000 cash bonus for fastest winning time in the series.
Stablemate Always Fast is current TAB favourite for the final, drawn to lead from the pole after clocking an 82.7secs heat win.
The third of the Stewart-trained runners is Liftntorque, who produced an electrifying sprint down the outside to win the opening heat from last in 83.4secs.