Grant Campbell and Gilt Bromac, pictured winning The VSB&SA Jane Ellen, will chase an even bigger prize this weekend
Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown glory isn't all that will be on the line when the 4YO Mares Final is run at Melton's Tabcorp Park on Sunday.
Bragging rights in one of Victorian harness racing leading households will also be up for grabs with Great Western trainer-drivers Grant Campbell and Kerryn Manning both represented in the $100,000 Group 1 decider.
Campbell has in-form mare Gilt Bromac engaged, while partner Manning puts the polish on one of this season's top female performers Sophie Pass.
Campbell said the clash between the evenly-matched mares, who work together regularly during the week and share a five-all head-to-head record, added an extra element to the race in which he would love to win.
"I can brag as much as I like at home because Gilt Bromac beats Sophie (Pass) every time we work, but I'd say the scoreboard on the racetrack is about equal," Campbell said.
"I've beaten Sophie home her last few starts, but early on she beat me home. Hopefully I can get another one up on her in the big one."
The inaugural 4YO Breeders Crown comes at the right time for Gilt Bromac, who has graduated to the top echelon of mares with wins at her past three starts including an effortless heat victory last Sunday night.
She will start from barrier nine in the 2240-metre mobile final in which fellow heat winner, the Paul Fitzpatrick-trained Lady Lexus, is a warm $2.20 favourite with TAB Sportsbet after drawing barrier one.
Gilt Bromac is a $5 chance in the event to be run at 2.30pm with Sophie Pass, third behind Gilt Bromac in her heat, a juicy $18 from the outside of the front row (seven).
"When I saw Lady Lexus drew one I was a bit disappointed, but she might not be that quick out," Campbell said. "If she is able to lead then she'll be very hard to beat, but if she can get crossed it will make things interesting.
"My mare's going really, really well and if she's not too far away from them at the 400m then she'll be in the finish."
Victory would provide Campbell with a career highlight. He won the 2YO Trotters Final behind the Roger Reeves-trained Starlight Josh in 2001, but success with a horse he also trains would easily surpass that.
"That was one of the earlier ones (finals) with Starlight Josh, so it's been a while between drinks and I'd be happy to add another one to the cabinet in the biggest race I've ever had a runner in as a trainer," he said.
