The 2025 Aurora Australis shines an international spotlight on Victorian trotting. Commencing in January, this eight-race series encompasses the feature trotting races that headline the start of a new racing year.

The Aurora Australis commences with the $50,000 Maori Mile at Bendigo on Saturday 4 January, where the fastest trotting stars compete for glory on one of the quickest tracks in Victoria.

The series then heads to Ballarat on Pacing Cup Night for the time-honoured $30,000 The Knight Pistol on Saturday night 18 January.

Victoria’s metropolitan track Melton, plays host to the next legs of the Aurora Australis series of races – with the $30,000 V L Dullard Trotters Cup on Saturday night 25 January and the $290,000 Great Southern Star series (two $20,000 Heats into a $250,000 Final) on Saturday night 1 February.

A new race has been added to the 2025 Aurora Australis, the Bruce Skeggs Cranbourne Trotters Cup, a $50,000 Group 1 race over 2555m at Cranbourne.

The final leg is the Group 2 $50,000 Australian Trotting Championship on Saturday night 22 February at Melton.

An attractive target to Australasia’s best trotters, the Aurora Australis will attract international participation from the key global trotting markets in the years to come.

 

 

Day Date Month Race Track Distance Current Prizemoney
Saturday 4th January Aldebaran Park Maori Mile (Group 2) Bendigo 1609m $50,000
Saturday 18th January Aldebaran Park The Knight Pistol (Group 3) Ballarat 2200m $30,000
Saturday 25th January V L Dullard Trotters Cup (Group 3) Melton 2240m $30,000
Saturday 1st February Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star Heats (2 Heats) Melton 1720m $20,000
Saturday 1st February Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star Final (Group 1) Melton 1720m $250,000
Saturday 8th February Bruce Skeggs Cranbourne Trotters Cup (Group 2) Cranbourne 2555m $50,000
Saturday 22nd February Australian Trotting Championship (Group 2) Melton 2650m (SS) $50,000