Long before T20 Cricket, Fast4 Tennis and Nitro Athletics, Victorian harness racing tested tradition by launching its own fast and furious format based on six-furlong dashes where speed was all that counted. 

The year was 2004; John Howard was in his third term as Australian PM, the Brisbane Lions were surging toward their third consecutive AFL Premiership and a kitschy little pacing race called The Stampede staged its first edition. 

Back then, the trots were gladiatorial by nature. 

Heroes were born via last man standing affairs over marathon trips where only the strongest survived. 

Darwin would have been shocked by the course of harness racing’s natural selection. 

Unsurprisingly then, these twee 1200m events were either pilloried or purged. 

How times have changed. 

Tonight, The Stampede’s 18th renewal will take place at Melton and it’s no longer the stand-alone race of its kind, with the Mercury80 series also taking pride of place through Victoria’s seminal Summer of Glory Carnival. 

Among the combatants in this Stampede are multiple Country Cup King Code Bailey – resuming from a break – and Ballarat Cup victor A Gs White Sox among others. 

In one way, there’s nothing new about top-class commodities targeting extreme short-course features. 

In just its second renewal A. G. Hunter Cup silver medallist Toe Taper prevailed and eight years later Grand Circuit winner Caribbean Blaster treated his 2013 adversaries to an almighty spanking. 

Most will recall that Caribbean Blaster was trained by champion trainer Andy Gath and that man’s passion for one-lap pace displays clearly hasn’t dulled. 

Let’s be clear when we say this; Gath passionately prosecuted his case for Catch A Wave to contest the A. G. Hunter Cup on the first Saturday evening in February this year. 

When that didn’t eventuate, however, the brilliant conditioner happily targeted Melton’s Mercury80 final over the ‘time honoured’ 1200m trip. 

Predictably he saluted and, as we now know, the rest is history. 

Following his six-furlong heroics, Catch A Wave wound his way to Menangle and duly nailed the Chariots of Fire/Miracle Mile double. 

As for tonight’s Stampede, the words of former Harness Racing Victoria executive Vaughn Lynch shall echo through the Sky Box high above Victorian harness headquarters. 

These races, over the same distance as the Newmarket Handicap, are more suited to class commodities than any other.

Typically, the ‘best’ horse will win. 

Now we simply must unravel who that ‘best’ horse is. 

THERE’S something about the 34th City of Melton Plate at Group 3 level this evening that simply screams upset. 

Favourite Major Moth hasn’t enjoyed the easiest of lives and was very moderate by his standards in the Horsham Cup when resuming from a spell. 

And multiple Group 1 winner Better Eclipse draws in such a place that others will need to roll in front if he is to salute. 

Where that assassination possibly emanates from is a mystery, though Outlaw Man may be our John Wilkes Booth. 

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.