The TAB Summer of Glory was officially launched in front of about 300 guests at the Ballarat and District Trotting Club yesterday.
The barrier draw for the PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup set up a fascinating night one feature with boom Kiwi Self Assured drawing inside the back row in gate eight.
Read the Herald Sun’s coverage of the barrier draw
TAB opened Self Assured $2.5 but he had drifted to $2.7 by last night, with The Storm Inside $6.5 from barrier two, A G’s White Socks $5 from four and Chase Auckland $5 from five all given huge chances.
Phoenix Prince is fast becoming a long-range punters’ pal, backed in from $13 to $8 from gate nine – he was sensationally backed before winning the Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup last weekend ($26 into $6).
In addition to the Cup the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks and Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby heats will be run at Ballarat, with exciting fillies Maajida (a winner of seven out of eight so far) and Kiwi Stylish Memphis the early favourites in the Oaks heats, and Queenslander Governor Jujon and Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen-trained Smooth Deal two of the early heat favourites in the Derby.
The explosive Be Happy Mach drew barrier 10 in his Derby heat for trainer Clayton Tonkin.
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) unveiled the Get Set TAB Summer of Glory campaign via social media last night, featuring the Aussie music classic Get Set by Jason Singh from Taxiride.
Singh played live at the Ballarat launch, which doubled as a special Super Morning broadcast on radio station RSN.
Singh will perform at Melton on Hunter Cup night, with free entry to the races and the gigs (live set before the feature race and after the last race).
Following the Ballarat TAB Summer of Glory opening night the action moves to Tabcorp Park Melton for the next two Saturday nights.
Night two will feature the Derby and Oaks finals, as well as the Alabar 4YO Bonanza – a qualifying race for the Chariots of Fire in Sydney, the DNR Logistics V L Dullard Cup for trotters, the DNR Logistics Casey Classic and the inaugural $50,000 Mercury80 Final over 1200m.
The fourth and final heat of the Mercury80 will be run on Friday night at Melton.
Night three will feature the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup and the What The Hill Great Southern Star, as well as the Pridmore Electrics Ladyship Cup.
Find out more about the 2020 TAB Summer of Glory
Media enquiries: cwinnell@hrv.org.au or 8378 0288