Johan Untersteiner is pictured here, driving the quickest ever mile rate of 1:50 and 1/5 on Giant Diablo.
The Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star will be just one of many highlights on March 23 at Tabcorp Park.
One of the major talking points is likely to be the Team JC USA International Invitational Drivers Free For All, a race sponsored by the stable of leading North American trainer Jonas Czernyson.
Czernyson, who had planned to attend the meeting is now unfortunately unable to be in Australia, however the international theme is significant with an Australasian contingent pitted against their European peers in a squaregaiting race that will make history.
Rather than carry the nominal trainers colours as is tradition in Australia, in line with usual custom and practice in most Trotting countries around the world, each driver will wear their most recognisable silks in order to aid the punters in knowing who is who.
A draw will be conducted at acceptance time to determine which driver will be on each horse and this will be randomly decided, meaning a trainer who was to nominate a horse to compete won’t necessarily get to drive their own trotter.
Harness Racing Victoria has today released the preliminary invitations dependent on availability:
Anthony Butt (NZ)
Maurice McKendry (NZ)
Mark Purdon (NZ)
David Butt (NZ)
Chris Lang Snr (AUS)
Gavin Lang (AUS)
Kerryn Manning (AUS)
Chris Alford (AUS)
Lance Justice (AUS)
Luke McCarthy (AUS)
Torbjorn Jansson (EU)
Johan Untersteiner (EU)
