Victoria holds its place firmly in the spotlight this weekend with Bendigo hosting a nine-race Cup card tomorrow evening.

Now worth $70,000 at Group 2 level, this year’s edition has an up-and-comers feel about it, with a few looking to break into a regular Grand Circuit slot in 2022 with a forward performance.

The TAB market represents the openness of the contest, with five runners at single figures, headed by New South Wales raider SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS. Racing with distinction through the Inter Dominion series, he has drawn nicely in gate two which gives his young gun driver Jack Callaghan plenty of options. Speaking of Inter Dominion form, TRIPLE EIGHT performed superbly throughout the heats of that series, before the tempo of the final put him out of contention from well back. Not being known for his gate speed, the barrier draw is tough although the trip is right to his likening.

TANGO TARA holds a trial victory over LOCHINVAR ART earlier this week and is coming into the contest after a last-start win in the Breeders Crown Graduate Free For All in mid-November.

Despite there being very few Group 1 trotting sprint features in Australasia, you can still expect the Maori Mile to be hotly contested as race five on the card. A top-quality line-up features many of the country’s best-performed trotters, with the clash including millionaire man TORNADO VALLEY. Andy Gath has had a stranglehold on this feature in recent years, training four of the last six victors, including the last three runnings. ALDEBARAN REVANI throws plenty of intrigue into the affair, with the American-bred mare lighting up Menangle in six-straight sprint trip victories, headlined by a 1.52.7 personal best last start.

Next weekend, the attention in Victoria will turn to the Shepparton Gold Cup, which is looking likely to be the return race for Lochinvar Art.

Ballarat will host its Group 1 Cup on January 22, followed by a Melton card featuring the Group 1 Caduceus Classic and V L Dullard Trotters Cup before an enormous first weekend of February.

Friday, February 4 will see the running of the Great Southern Star, with the Hunter Cup only 24 hours later as the jewel in the Summer Of Glory’s crown.

STYLISH MEMPHIS has made Menangle her own over the last two seasons, taking two Group 1 features back to her New Zealand homeland, and she will be looking to add a third this year.

Running an eye-catching fourth in last year's Chariots Of Fire, she then saluted in the Ladyship Mile a week later before running sixth in the Miracle Mile. Dealing with barrier draws of ten, seven and eight, it was a remarkable month.

Kicking off this campaign in the care of Jack Trainor once again, she will run favourite in Saturday night’s P J Hall FFA at Menangle from a favourable draw of three. Openly commenting that she will be driven in her regular sit-sprint manner to start her path towards the Ladyship Mile on February 26, Trainor expects that she should also improve with each run.

Quality harness racing is highlighted right across the country this weekend with Western Australia and Tasmania also hosting some great open class contests.

As the WA and Fremantle cups draw ever closer, the depth to the state’s free for all ranks is elite and this weekend’s Pat Cranley Memorial is a great entrée to what’s to come over the next month.

MAGNIFICENT STORM bounced back into the winner's circle last week, absorbing intense pressure from CHICAGO BULL throughout the middle section to hang on and record his first win in three runs since returning from a spell.

After a tough effort, Chicago Bull would have lost no admirers by only being beaten 11 metres second-up from a break and is due a change of luck. Drawing the inside of the second row in tonight’s feature, he will again rely on some fortune.

The likes of HURRICANE HARLEY, MINSTREL and the ideally drawn PERFECT MAJOR amongst others are more than capable of causing an upset in such a deep contest.

Across the Bass Strait, the Hobart Pacing Cup will be run for $40,000 on Sunday evening with a strong local contingent looking to hold off the lone Victorian challenge of WILLIE GO WEST.

Luckless on his previous trip to Tasmania when not featuring as favourite in both the Tasmania Cup and Easter Cup under standing start conditions, he will be looking to overcome the outside mobile gate this time around. Trialling on Tuesday at Melton to keep up to the mark, he ripped home in a 54.8sec closing quarter when holding off his returning stablemate CRUZ BROMAC.

Best of the weekend – R3 N1 @ Albion Park – Rocknroll Icon 

Value of the weekend – R5 N8 @ Bendigo – Im Ready Jet

Brittany Graham is a regular host on Sky Racing and the Sky Racing Active app, plus In The Gig with Ben Way and Gareth Hall every Tuesday night on Sky Racing 2 from 6pm.

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.