It is hard to see how budding superstar LOCHINVAR ART won’t win Saturday night’s $500,000 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup.

When he drew nine last night, a little gasp when through the room, but just moments later KING OF SWING drew much worse in gate 12.

Lochinvar Art was $1.70 with TAB pre-draw, $1.50 moments after it and quickly crunched into $1.30, which underlines his dominance when you consider he does have to come from the back row to win.

But he’s drawn to follow out the fastest beginner on the front row and likely early leader in ALTA ORLANDO (gate two), which means Lochinvar Art should punch through and settle well in front of key rivals like King Of Swing and Wolf Stride.

Trainer-driver David Moran will likely then make an early move in search of the lead or, at worse, the spot outside the leader from where he can dictate the terms.

He’s the best horse in the race with the best draw of the major players.

The tip-top version of Alta Orlando would run a mighty race from his draw, but it’s unclear whether he’s right back to his very best and seems better suited driven with a sit at the very top level.

Victory would give Lochinvar Art his sixth Group 1 win in the past year (plus one week), be his biggest win so far and level his ledger with King Of Swing at 2-2.

Excitingly, it would also ramp-up comparisons with pacing greats of yesteryear.

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WHAT a special night it was at Crown’s Palladium last night for the VHRC Caduceus Night of Nights, including the Hunter Cup barrier draw and inaugural Lang Medals.

Huge credit to Rob Auber and all those who helped and it was great to be able to showcase an hour of it all on Sky Racing 2.

That Gavin Lang tribute video was so fitting – hard to watch at times and deeply emotional – but an outstanding way to remember the greatest driver we’ve seen in this part of the world.

Congratulations to all the medal winners who will treasure being honoured on the inaugural night of an event which I’m sure will continue to grow into something amazing.

And a special callout to Victoria’s voice of harness racing, Dan Mielicki, for being inducted as a Living Legend. It was so richly deserved.

READ MORE: MIELICKI NAMED THE 29TH LIVING LEGEND

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LUKE McCarthy’s influence will run far deeper than just the Hunter Cup on Saturday night.

It’s likely he will also drive the favourites in two other Group 1s – BETTOR ENFORCE in the $100,000 Ladyship Cup and EXPENSIVE EGO in the $100,000 4YO Bonanza.

Both capped their preparations with easy and slick Menangle wins last Saturday night.

Expensive Ego’s 1:53.1 mile rate for 2300m was 0.4sec faster than King Of Swing went winning the free-for-all.

Bettor Enforce, who has won 15 races over the past 15 months, will try to break through for her first Group 1 win after an exasperating run of near misses. She’s been second at her past three attempts, including last year’s Ladyship Cup at Melton and the Queen Of The Pacific at Melton on October 31.

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IT is premature to say star Kiwi raider MAJESTIC MAN has Friday night’s Group 1 Great Southern Star in the bag.

Sure he thrashed his rivals and shattered the track record winning the Group 1 TAB V L Dullard Trotters Cup last Saturday night, but there are few factors to consider.

So many of his major What The Hill Great Southern Star rivals, most notably MCLOVIN, PINK GALAHS and even IM READY JET, didn’t go around in the Dullard Cup.

Even caretaker trainer and driver Brad Williamson concedes the need to race a heat and final in the same night is a “concern and unknown” for Majestic Man.

And then there is the barrier draw. He drew to blast straight to the lead in the Dullard Cup, but that may not be the case in the heat and/or final on Friday night.

Roll all of those together the big crunch on Majestic Man on TAB from $4 into $2 to win the Great Southern Star looks a slight overreaction.

READ MORE: MAJESTIC RAID AS KIWI CRUSHES 4-YEAR RECORD

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