It is quite fitting Friday week’s Kilmore Cup meeting will help shape the strength of the Victorian raid on New Zealand’s most prestigious trotting race, the $400,000 Dominion Trot.

Remarkably, the last Aussie to head to Christchurch and beat the Kiwis in the Dominion was the mighty Victorian mare Scotch Notch way back in 1983.

Yes, it’s been 41 years between drinks.

The betting markets say that will change at Addington on November 12.

We know Just Believe will lead an Aussie charge, which could number as many as four trotters.

But how Friday week’s $25,000 Kilmore Trotters’ Cup plays out will play a big role in whether stars like Callmethebreeeze and Arcee Phoenix accompany Just Believe across the ditch.

Queenslander Gus is already booked on a plane.

Scotch Notch went via Kilmore, albeit differently, when she won the Dominion all those years ago.

After winning the Kilmore Trotters’ Cup in 1982, her late trainer-driver Graeme Lang threw her against the pacers a year later in the Group 1 Kilmore (Pacing) Cup.

Showing just how amazing she was, Scotch Notch ran second to Distant Thunder in that Cup. She beat home pacing stars like Bundanoon, Royal Three, Lassken and The Guest Of Honour.

Just 26 days later, Scotch Notch came off a 10m handicap and beat Kiwi trotters superstars like Sir Castleton, Basil Dean and Tussle in the Dominion.

Callmethebreeze’s new trainer Andy Gath knows Kilmore is the race the French-bred star needs.

“It’s a 3150m handicap, so similar to the Dominion, and it will be his first race from a stand,” he said.

“I told Pat (Driscoll) we needed to run him at Kilmore if we’re seriously looking at NZ. It’ll give us a lot of intel.”

Callmethebreeze passed his first test for the Dominion when he stepped well from a standing start and won a Melton trial last Tuesday.

“It was a good sign. His first step was into a trot,” Gath said.

The fact Just Believe is a lock for the Dominion doesn’t seem to be the deterrent many expected for other Aussie trainers.

Arcee Phoenix’s trainer-driver Chris Svanosio is also looking to Kilmore to help decide on a Christchurch trip.

“It’ll be his third run back and he’d need to run well,” he said. “The plan is to go if we’re really happy with him when it’s time to make the final call.”

The NZ flavour will flow into the $75,000 Group 2 Kilmore (Pacing) Cup as well.

Jess Tubbs is looking seriously at the race with her Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse.

And NSW trainer Jason Grimson, who won last year’s NZ Cup with Swayzee, will use Kilmore to to push two of his key contenders – District Attorney and Major Moth - for this year’s race further up the rankings.

While District Attorney is quite well placed in 16th spot, Major Moth is way down at 27. He will need big showings at Kilmore and in the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup (October 12) to make the NZ Cup field.