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.

It’s on from there with the $50,000 Group 3 Shepparton Gold Cup a week later and then the $100,000 Group 1 Ballarat Cup, along with the Group 3 Knight Pistol, on January 18.

From there it’s “entrée night” at Melton with the Casey Classic, Caduceus 3YO Classic and Dullard Cup at Melton on January 25.

Then it’s the Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star night at Melton on February 1.

All eyes and ears will be on Queensland in the build-up and whether one of the world’s great pacers, let alone our best, Leap To Fame is progressing well enough to defend his Hunter Cup title after health issues forced him out of the Victoria Cup, Hunter Cup and Inter Dominion in recent months.

His return is crucial. He’s a drawcard any time, but on the comeback trail, so to speak, he’s an even bigger story.

Owner Kevin Seymour has hinted at possibly coming down earlier to take in a Ballarat Cup, but whether he comes south at all probably won’t be clearer until mid-January.

With just one of the 12 finalists in last Saturday night’s Inter Dominion pacing final trained in Victoria, this upcoming carnival is also about restoring some pride and, hopefully, unearthing some new talent.

We know Just Believe won’t be seen as we await clarity on his future with injury.

And we’ve got so much to look forward to with the stunning and unbeaten Keayang Zahara, but she too will be spelling during this carnival after a huge finish to 2024.

But let’s delve into the wash-up from last Saturday night’s fantastic Inter Dominion pacing final and what it means for Victoria.

Don Hugo is a serious horse.

If you thought his TAB Eureka win was a bit of a fluke and largely due to his driver Luke McCarthy “pinching” the race in front, think again.

That Inter Dominion final was epic.

It was a race for the ages with a mighty, seasoned and top flight warhorse in Minstrel throwing everything at a horse almost half his age and lacking any of his experience, in Don Hugo.

But the Don lifted and in a way he suggested he was ready for the next step, which is obviously clashing with the Nadal and Federer of Aussie pacing, Leap To Fame and Swayzee.

Hopefully, that’s in the Hunter Cup.

“I know it’s another step-up and maybe they’ll be too good for him, but he just keeps improving with each campaign this horse and, on times, he should be competitive with them,” McCarthy said.

Don Hugo took a staggering 1.1sec off the Menangle track record with his unthinkable 1min50.3sec mile rate for 2300m last Saturday night.

Also keep an eye on exciting young Kiwi, Tact McLeod, who missed the Inter Dominion with a hoof abscess, but brilliantly won a support race at Menangle last Saturday night.

He now joins the Anthony Butt/Sonya Smith team to target the Hunter Cup, via the Bendigo and Ballarat Cups.

It was similar in the trotting final with the emerging four-year-old The Locomotive beat his mostly older rivals.

The Locomotive, who has done so much of his feature racing (and winning) in Victoria with trainer Wayne Potter, will return for new trainer-driver Brad Hewitt to chase the Great Southern Star on Hunter Cup night.

Just Believe won’t be there, nor will Keayang Zahara. And there’s doubts over Callmethebreeze, too.

So, The Locomotive looks a likely top seed.

One to watch is Marg Lee’s unheralded Keayang Stuka, another four-year-old who thrived through the Inter Dominion and ran a slashing third in the final.

He’s got fantastic speed and that series could be the making of him.

Enjoy Christmas and then strap yourself in because the big racing will be back in time … and in our own backyard.

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.