WHETHER you solemnly support or definitively deride the long-term lockdowns, which, for whatever reasons, affected Australasia more than anywhere else, we can all agree on this. 

We have all, harness fans in particular, desperately missed the trans-Tasman rivalries that have historically defined the sport. 

Fortunately, tonight, relief appears at hand. 

Finally, for the first time in what seems an eternity, Tabcorp Park Melton will host a contest featuring one of New Zealand’s two best horses – Copy That – and clearly Victoria’s most exhilarating contemporary in Honolua Bay. 

Typically, when invading athletes seek to breach local soil, Australians, like most other nations, naturally manufacture an environment that stretches our visitors in every way imaginable. 

Not so this evening. 

At least not on paper. 

Look, it’s certainly possible that Copy That will face early obstacles with Andy Gath openly declaring his desire for Tango Tara to hold the lead if possible and Torrid Saint likely possessing the very same plan. 

Nevertheless, Copy That has drawn the front line (gate four), which is worth its weight in gold over Melton’s short-course 1720m trip, while Honolua Bay has landed the second row in gate 10. 

Whatever happens this evening, Victorian harness racing hasn’t enjoyed such an organically brilliant build-up to it’s feature races in many years. 

Let’s be clear, tonight’s VHRC Caduceus Classic, and even last weekend’s TAB Minuteman Free For All, have boasted very near Victoria Cup quality fields and that’s not standard one month out from major targets these days. 

Honestly speaking, when King Of Swing retired to stud earlier this year, Ride High lost his battles with injury during the pandemic and Lochinvar Art went for an extended, rehabilitating break after the Hunter Cup, there were genuine concerns about Australasia’s open class depth. 

That’s clearly no longer the case. 

Staggeringly, as it so often does, harness racing’s elite landscape regenerated while nobody was watching. 

In the coming weeks, Larajay Farm duo Better Eclipse and Triple Eight will return to racing, at some point Self Assured will cross the Tasman and – hopefully – Blacks A Fake winner Majestic Cruiser will also target Victorian riches. 

Throw Bondi Lockdown into the mix along with a few others and some truly gifted horses will be shunted out of the Victoria Cup and Inter Dominion Final. 

Spring has sprung, every inch counts and racing, yet again, is the ultimate winner. 

LAST year, after knocking on the door of feature race glory for what felt like an eternity, Maori Law finally landed his maiden Group 1 success in the Australasian Trotting Championship. 

He then complemented that breakthrough by taking out the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship at Tabcorp Park Menangle. 

Tonight, at Melton, he will defend his Australasian trotting title, but this time with a 10-metre handicap among his obstacles. 

If he wins, he’ll be the first handicapped horse to salute in that revered race since 2016 and his reputation will skyrocket once more. 

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.