EVERYTHING about the freakish four-time Group 1 meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night is utterly amazing. 

First, there’s the extraordinary depth of quality events. 

From a one-brand perspective, the Inter Dominion has more cache than the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup and no carnival runs longer of stronger than the Summer of Glory early next year. 

Nevertheless, from a one-night-only standpoint, this weekend’s programme at Tabcorp Park is now the benchmark standardbred meeting staged in Victoria, and perhaps Australia, all season. 

Heading the action, which will yield connections more than $1 million in prizemoney is, of course, the Grand Circuit Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup.

Here’s the thing, however; despite this literally being the Victoria Cup card, there’s every chance that Australia’s two finest pacers will race at Melton this Saturday night, but not in the meeting’s eponymous event. 

Prior to last weekend's Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby heat, record-breaking three-year-old Captain Ravishing would still have had his doubters – and maybe he still does. 

Still, if folks remain unconvinced by Emma Stewart’s Ride High-esque recruit after sitting parked, hanging multiple times in transit and still humbling dual Derby winner Leap To Fame last weekend then convincing them, ever, seems a forlorn task. 

The facts are these; right here and right now, Captain Ravishing is Emma Stewart’s – and Victoria’s - most exciting standardbred. 

And, on both counts, Ladies In Red is, again, right here and right now, likely the best. 

Like Captain Ravishing, she also won’t be tackling the Group 1 Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup. 

Instead, Ladies In Red will focus her energies on leg one of the Elizabeth Clarke Mares Triple Crown, the Group 3 Make Mine Cullen. 

On one hand it’s slightly irksome that potentially Victoria’s two best pacers won’t be in the biggest feature event this weekend. 

On the other hand, it speaks volumes about our depth across both age and gender that can only be a positive sign. 

Staggeringly, this column has already touched on the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup, the Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby and the Make Mine Cullen but, seriously, there’s more. 

And what’s left is worth far more than the obligatory steak knives. 

Also set to be staged on Saturday night are the Group 1 Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Oaks Final, the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint, the Group 2 Alabar Vicbred Home Grown Classic Finals for juvenile boys and girls along with the Group 2 The VHRC Caduceus Holmfield for three-year-trotters. 

It’s going to be one hell of a night. 

IN many ways it’s fitting the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup carnival is now held in conjunction with Twitter’s Harness Charity Challenge. 

The brainchild of Steve Salter, the Harness Charity Challenge is a fundraiser with a difference as players tip every day through October in their quest for glory and to ensure their chosen charity is rewarded as handsomely as possible. 

Follow along throughout this month by searching the hashtag #harnesscharitychallenge. 

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.