For more than half a century New Zealand bred and raised pacers and trotters have been plundering the riches of Australian racing.

And, despite increased transport and registration fees, the trend of NZ horses crossing the Tasman is showing little sign of slowing down. In 2022 alone more than 450 Kiwi breds were cleared to Australia - the majority for racing purposes.

Better Eclipse and Just Believe will spearhead the five-strong Victorian entry for the Inter Dominion Grand Finals at Albion Park on Saturday night. They will joined by Turn It Up and the trotters Van Sank and Thebestbourbon.

Will Wicked Liquor’s longest 21^st Century losing streak at 41 go the board?  Who will win at their first start to join a select list? Who will be the next cup or classic winner?

The answers to these questions may be revealed at the 13^th annual Humbletonian Day meeting to be held at Maryborough on Friday, December 22.

Benstud Standardbreds, one of Australia’s leading nurseries and agistment farms, has joined forces with equine supplement specialists BetaVet in the preparation of their yearlings for the 2024 sales.

Benstud will use Prepare, Gastri-Tec and Buildagut, which are part of  BetaVet’s extensive preparation and racing range, on 49 yearlings – the highest number of any stud or preparer in the country – for sales in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane conducted by Nutrien Equine.

The Woodlands Stud flagship stallion Bettor’s Delight maintained his position at the top of the Breeders Crown sires’ premiership following the successes of champion three-year-old filly Major Delight and top four-year-old mare Fiamma in their respective Finals.

Maryborough identity Peter Gleeson is on the verge of achieving yet another milestone in a decorated career as a breeder.

The 2017 Victorian Breeder of the Year will be represented by the two-year-old filly Very Pretty and the three-year-old colt Perfect Class in their respective Finals of the Breeders Crown at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night.

The fact that Victoria is the premier State for breeding was emphasized as four of the six major pacing Derby classics and three of the six major Oaks as well as all four trotting Derbies and Oaks run across the country in 2023 were won by Vicbred horses.

It's the time of year when it all comes down to the Breeders Crown.

Some 25 years ago, a concept to create a championship series in harness racing showcasing the best young pacing and trotting talent was initiated by Alabar Bloodstock principal Alan Galloway and other farms with the support of Harness Racing Victoria and the Victorian Standardbred Breeders Association.

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

The results of the Victoria Cup meeting at Melton Entertainment Park further underlined Victoria’s status as the hub of the breeding industry in Australia.

Of the five Group One events run, four were won by horses bred and foaled in Victoria. They are Act Now, the winner of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, Petracca (Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby), Sweet Bella (Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks) and Shes Ruby Roo (Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks).

A total of 436 yearlings have been nominated across four states for the 2024 Australian Pacing Gold yearling sale.

Several of the largest players in Victorian standardbred breeding shone brightly on the big stage at the $1.5 million Vicbred Super Series finals at Melton on Saturday night.

With a total of $1.5million up for grabs across 12 races, Saturday night’s meeting at Melton will showcase the best Victorian-bred two, three and four-year-old pacers and trotters in commission.

Muckleford breeder-owner Graham Old is hoping talented trotting mare Lady Adelia can give him his first Group 1 success in a more than 50-year involvement in the sport when she lines up in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series final at Melton on September 16.

Champion Ballarat breeder-owner-studmaster Pat Driscoll chalked up yet another milestone in his storied career when he bred five trotting winners at the Vicbred Super Series meeting at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.

Twenty heats of the Alabar Farms Vicbred Super Series are in the books after the pacers chased semi-finals berths and next the $2 million series spotlight turns to the country's best young squaregaiters, with the Haras des Trotteurs heats at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.

After launching with the two-year-olds at Kilmore on Tuesday, the pacing series became the plaything of Captaintreacherous' offspring on night two when the three-year-olds kicked off at Ballarat.

Sons and daughters of several leading racemares from yesteryear prevailed at the opening of the Vicbred Super Series for two-year-olds at Kilmore on Tuesday night.