Champion driver Anthony Butt thinks Tact McLeod is the right horse to win him a remarkable eighth Group 1 Hunter Cup.

Butt, a former Kiwi now based in Victoria, already holds the record for the most wins by a driver in Victoria's biggest harness race with seven, but it has been 11 years since he last won it.

It is easy to forget how spoiled we have been this year.

We saw two all-time greats of their gait – Leap To Fame and Just Believe – deliver us the “Larry” and “Harry” show and provide so many memorable moments.

In my time, it was way back in 1985 when Preux Chevalier (pacer) and Scotch Notch (trotter) strutted their stuff in tandem since we have seen such greatness in both gaits at the one time.

Others will go back to Maori’s Idol and the best pacers during his career, but that’s just before my time.

Then, in the most spectacular of arrivals, along came Keayang Zahara. There has NEVER been a three-year-old trotting filly like her in this part of the world.

And we got all this in one year.

As I’ve said before, harness racing has many challenges, but it certainly isn’t with the quality of horses or a lack of star power. We’ve got it in droves.

Here’s some of my reflections on the horse front from 2024…

The two newly crowned Inter Dominion champions are heading to Victoria.

While Andy Gath’s big guns are resting, the decorated trainer has four chances across three races to snatch more feature race glory at Melton on Saturday night.

The baton now goes to Victoria.

After the shortest of breaks to enjoy Christmas, the stars will be back in action chasing feature races again in our backyard.

This is scary, but it’s just three weeks until the first of the big country cups, the $75,000 Group 2 Bendigo Cup, which is supported by the $60,000 Group 2 Maori Mile for the trotters on January 4.

Victoria doesn’t have the great Just Believe flying its flag, but still has the quality and quantity to continue its dominance in tonight’s Inter Dominion trotting final at Menangle.

Just Believe, sidelined by injury, has brilliantly won the past two finals, giving Victorians six wins in the past nine finals.

There can only be one winner.

But in a “normal” season, any of Just Believe, Keayang Zahara or Leap To Fame would be absolute locks for Australian Horse of the Year honours.

Victoria flexed its muscle last weekend and there is more to come.

Freakish filly Keayang Zahara set the tone when she toyed with her rivals yet again in the NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington last Friday night.

The Inter Dominion history is littered with superstars and great stories.

Another chapter starts at Newcastle on Friday night and, yes, the stars are missing, but trust the brand, and have faith the great series can produce the stories.

Watching the Winx movie on the plane from Melbourne to Christchurch may not have been Marg Lee’s best decision.

Already feeling the weight of expectation with unbeaten Keayang Zahara, Lee watched with a growing understanding as Chris Waller talked of the pressure he felt as Winx’s winning streak grew and grew.

Australia has the Hunter Cup, the Miracle Mile, a rapidly growing Queensland Winter Carnival, the emerging Nullarbor and the Inter Dominion.

But we don’t have anything like New Zealand Cup Week at Addington.

The allure of New Zealand Cup Week is something else.

Jason Lee’s trip to New Zealand in a couple of weeks will be fuelled by a fair slice of patriotism.

Like so many in Aussie harness racing, especially Victorians, the 29-year-old Lee grew-up watching a long line of Kiwi stars cross the ditch and not just compete in, but win so many of our biggest races.

Victorians will lead Australia’s biggest attack yet on the iconic New Zealand Cup Week.

James Herbertson drove home from Victoria Cup night with mixed emotions.

But, once the dust settles, the 24-year-old will look back on the night as the most defining of his career so far.

Australia's next Group 1 trotting race is more like a meeting of the United Nations of harness racing.

Saturday night’s $75,000 Bill Collins Trotters’ Mile – headed by the next clash of Just Believe and Callmethebreeze – has it all.

In what is starting to become a common theme, Jason Grimson looks the biggest danger to Leap To Fame in Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup.

Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour is breaking a promise to himself so his champion pacer Leap To Fame can race at Melton on Saturday night.

Leap To Fame, a winner of 42 of his 53 starts and over $3.2 million, will have the first of two Melton starts in the $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint. It's a crucial lead-up to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup a week later.