ON Wednesday night Billy Slater’s Maroons delivered a trend-defying success over New South Wales 16-10.
This was a result that mattered; but only in Australia – perhaps New Zealand – and only to the folks the live and breathe for rugby league.
The other code of rugby – union – is less popular on these shores than league, but far more meaningful on a global scale.
In many ways, this paradox, this dichotomy, applies equally well to harness racing.
In Australasia, and North America, pacing is king.
On both continents, or global spaces, trotting (or squaregaiting) exists, but the biggest races, the biggest days and the biggest nights are dedicated to pacing as the racing gait of choice.
Spread the net to Europe, however, and suddenly things change.
On ‘the continent’, you see, pacing is either non-existent in several nations, or marginalised in others.
Trotting’s all that matters.
If we’re talking in the language of global esteem, races like the Prix D’Amerique at Vincennes in France or the Elitloppet at Solvalla in Sweden reign above all others.
For years, perhaps decades, debate has raged on Australian shores about where we focus our attentions.
Despite slipping quietly from the sporting zeitgeist, Australia’s most prized and prestigious pacing events like the Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup still matter.
By comparison, our grandest trotting event, the Great Southern Star, wouldn’t turn a head at your local bar.
Fortunately, trotting folk are both obsessive and inspired.
Many have played integral roles in advancing Australia’s squaregaiting stock, but none more than Duncan McPherson and Pat Driscoll.
Now, finally, their labors are yielding rewards.
In many ways, this wildly verbose introduction is benign, as the most exciting trotter racing at Melton tonight is neither bred nor owned by either Aldebaran Park.
Yet without them, she would not be here.
Her name is Queen Elida, and this evening she’ll start a seriously short-priced favourite in the Carlotta’s Pride Trotters Free For All.
Despite the fact she’ll likely destroy her rivals tonight, and the fact she’s exceptional by our standards, Brent Lilley’s daughter of Love You will almost certainly fall short of European standards should she travel later in her career.
She will, however, pave her own special step in the trail required for international glory.
And those that began it may feel rightly proud.
AT his first two runs this campaign, Group 1 winner Triple Eight has looked eerily like an AFL star at VFL level kicking 10 for fun.
At Tabcorp Park tonight, for the first time this campaign, two fellow pseudo topliners will join him on the ground.
Like A Wildfire is yet to reach any type of Grand Circuit excellence but has the pace to be dangerous in quality races circumstances permitting, while Supreme Dominator is a Cranbourne Cup king from last season.
Sadly, for the race, Triple Eight draws inside them both.
Hopefully, for his sake, this ‘perfect’ preparation doesn’t prove to be too soft.
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.