A long absent champion two-year-old and a Grand Circuit star will have many peering over the virtual fence to take in tonight's trials at Tabcorp Park Melton, which can be watched live from 5.30pm at thetrots.com.au.
Be Happy Mach, the two-year-old colt of the year in 2018-19 when he won nine of 10 starts, will hopefully take big strides towards a race return for trainer Clayton Tonkin tonight when he steps out in trial 10 against the likes of outstanding three-year-olds Momentslikethese and American Dealer.
The injury hampered four-year-old has been conspicious by his absence since his tearaway two-year-old season, when he captured the Breeders Crown and Breeders Challenge, with his only defeat that season coming when third in the 2019 Australian Pacing Gold final.
After his spell following a Breeders Crown triumph in August 2019 he returned for a tilt at the Victoria Derby the following January but finished fifth in his heat, failed to qualify for the final and injury has seen him sidelined until tonight.
Last month Tonkin told Adam Hamilton for his thetrots.com.au column in The Forum that Be Happy Mach was "right where Ride High is".
"We can’t wait any longer, it’s time to find out if they’re both going to make it back to the races,” Tonkin said. “Both of them start stud duties for Alabar this season. We need to know if they’re going to mix racing and stud, or just go off to stud.”
Be Happy Mach's down to appear in trial 10 of a terrific 12-trial line-up that also sees TAB Blacks A Fake champion Amazing Dream begin her Pryde's Easifeed Victoria Cup build-up in the fourth trial, when she'll share the track with Emma Stewart's trio Fourbigmen, Somewhere Secret and Maajida.
The trials kick off from 5.30pm.