Top trotter Real Babe (US) will contest the Great Southern Star.
Harness Racing Victoria today reveals its second international invitation for the 2015 Great Southern Star.
Superb American trotter Real Babe, a winner of $400,000US, has joined the Jayne Davies stable at Cranbourne and has received automatic qualification for Australasia’s richest trotting series, the Great Southern Star, to be held at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday, March 7.
Davies is excited about her latest stable acquisition, which is by Donato Hanover out of Housethatruthbuilt and boasts a winning mile rate of 1:52.4.
“She’s gone 1:52 so she’s got the score on the board,” Davies said.
“She’s a lovely mare. She’s very easy going and we took her out for a jog on Monday and she trots around beautifully. She’s nice and free and it looks like we’re going to have a lot of fun with her.”
Raced by Australian owners Emilio and Maria Rosati, Real Babe becomes the second international ticketholder to the Great Southern Star, joining French stallion Used To Me, who arrived Down Under about a month ago.
Real Babe has raced 56 times for 13 wins and 12 minor placings.
“We got to see her in action when we went across for the Little Brown Jug,” Davies said.
Last October Real Babe contested the Breeders Crown Final for Open Mares at Mohegan Sun, Pocono Downs, finishing sixth behind star trotter Maven.
Maven went on to be an Elitloppet finalist in 2014.
“In three short years the Great Southern Star has truly become an international event,” Harness Racing Victoria chief operating officer Brant Dunshea said.
“In 2015, with the inclusion of Real Babe, we will see one of the best open-class mares from North America over the past two years facing off against outstanding French stallion Used To Me. The new superstar of Australasian trotting in Keystone Del will get his chance to show the world how he measures up against some of the best from the Northern Hemisphere.”
Meanwhile, Nicole Molander trained Keystone Del took out Saturday night’s Bill Collins Trotters Mile – a qualification race for the Great Southern Star – the reigning Star champion now a certain starter on finals night.
Other horses to have qualified to contest the Great Southern Star are Spidergirl, Master Lavros, Superbowlcheerleader, Sheemon, Vincennes, Our Overanova, Stent and Jackka Justy.
This Saturday night’s Group 1 Dullard Cup at Ballarat is the next qualification race, with Keystone Del likely to start a hot favourite.
