Punters, particularly younger punters, regularly revel in fortifying the fraternity which bonds them.

Truth be told, it’s quite a beautiful notion.

In world where fewer Australians than ever choose wagering as a pastime, punting folk flock to like-minded investors with glorious abandon to celebrate the kinship of their trade.

At the risk of bursting their benevolent bubble, however, certain distinctions will always exist between speculative players.

The most binary of those distinctions separates the few that pray at the altar of predictability, and the many that welcome manifest mayhem.

Let’s be clear, all punters prioritise predictability in some form or another.

Form, after all, designates itself by moniker as something based on prior behaviour.

Yet most remain magnetized to the chance of anarchy, the hope of chaos, which may well help them find a winner at enormous odds.

This, among other things, drives the thriving business that is thoroughbred racing.

Gallopers are fickle, you see – as are the tracks on which they compete.

Pacers however – and to a lesser degree trotters – perform to pattern more often than not.

The bad news for professors of prediction, and the good news for everyone else at Tabcorp Park tonight, is that the fast class pace could not be more lawless in nature.

Most metropolitan contests at Victorian harness headquarters are won and lost on one decisive factor.

This event has many. 

Will Denis William kick through early from his pole-marking draw?

Will Cant Top This (pictured) find the early speed to find the front?

Does Chris Alford run the gate with fast-starter Sicario?

Can Ozzie Battler cross the lot then take a trail?

Perplexing as these queries may be for rusted-on zealots, their simple existence makes the trots accessible.

Sadly, and unfairly, harness racing has been tarnished with sins of the past, sins which suggest that those occupying the inner sanctum have an insurmountable advantage over those playing at home.

Races like this, where nobody has the answers, and if they do those answers will – or should – be represented by dramatic market moves, massively improve the broad perception of this sport.

The only drawback from here, in a contest promising so much, is if the tactics taken on by most are far too meagre.

Thankfully, blissfully, that’s very unlikely to happen.

Much has been made of the quiet coup younger, faster trotters have undertaken at the expense of their aging rivals in recent weeks.

First, the revolution started with Mufasa Metro humbling established rivals at open class level, and since then Ultimate Stride has taken up the slack.

It must be remembered, however, that this supposed overthrow has only been enacted while our sleeping giants slumbered.

Tonight, the most meaning of these giants, Majestuoso, returns to restore order in the Aldebaran Park Lenin Trotters Free For All.

And barring something unforeseen, restore order he will.

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.