Ride High faces the biggest test of his campaign after being drawn outside the back row in Saturday night’s TAB Smoken Up Sprint, when many rivals will be gung-ho to claim the coveted $50,000 prize and prove themselves worthy of a Grand Circuit start.

Places in the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup will in the balance in Saturday night’s headliner, with New South Wales raider Cruz drawing the plum gate two draw and sharing the front line with other hopefuls Sicario (gate four), Major Times (gate six) and returning top liner Code Bailey (gate seven).

Code Black, who’s considered on the bubble of Victoria Cup selection, will start from gate eight for Emma Stewart and Greg Sugars, a trailing draw behind polemarker Andy Gath’s Star Of Memphis, who’s first up since May.

However, most intrigue will surround Ride High and whether the speed machine, who broke the clock at Bendigo on August 1 when running 1:49, can round this quality field and add a 12th victory to his winning streak.

While he’s started and won off the second row twice this campaign, on both occasions – at Terang and Bendigo – he’s been the only horse on the back row and able to quickly pick his path to the head of affairs.

Saturday may present a more stern test for reinswoman Kate Gath, who will be having her second start on the five-year-old, with a strong front line that includes Cruz well placed to lead and strong types Major Times and Code Bailey on his outside.

Tab.com.au opened with Ride High a $1.25 favourite ahead of Cruz ($5.50) and Code Bailey ($7.50).

 

The sprint headlines a terrific race card, which includes the Dilmah Tea Pace at 9.05pm, featuring the likes of Reactor Now and Idealsomemagic, who were among the 25 a thetrots.com.au panel shortlisted for being in contention for Victoria Cup starts.

The Aldebaran Park Chris Howe Trotters Free For All is the card’s headline trotting race at 8.05pm, with the $24,000 Group 3 drawing three Great Southern Star winners on the back row in Dance Craze (gate eight), Sparkling Success (gate nine) and Tornado Valley (gate 10).

Sammy Showdown (gate four) and Sundons Courage (gate six) are among those on the front line to ensure the middle distance trot will be run along.

The TAB Make A Date With Play 3YO Pace will close out the quaddie at 8.35pm and sees the return of Perfect Stride and trainer-driver Anthony Butt to Victoria, where they teamed to place in their two-year-old Breeders Crown final and the Victoria Derby.

The field also includes Emma Stewart’s pair Techys Angel and Maajida, the brilliant filly first up since March, and a talented crew with forthcoming Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series tilts front of mind.

The night also features the Allied Express The Jane Ellen, the $30,000 mares race a key lead-in to the forthcoming Elizabeth Clarke Mares Triple Crown.

Butt’s talented three-year-old Dr Susan is a notable inclusion and will start off the back row inside backmarker Goodtime Heaven amid a quality line-up that includes Enchanted Stride, Kualoa and No Win No Feed.

There is quality on every line of the 11-race card, which kicks off at 5.10pm.

Catch all the action live and free on Trots Vision, which will be taking special Sky Active coverage during the next two Saturday nights, featuring Trots Vision's Rob Auber and Dan Mielicki, Adam Hamilton courtesy of TAB and RSN's Gareth Hall.

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