Kvintet Avenger in top flight.
Trainer Brent Lilley says Kvintet Avenger has peaked at the right time ahead of Saturday night’s Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star.
Kvintet Avenger, who is a former Swedish trotter, defeated stablemate Kyvalley Blur in Sunday’s Tabcorp Trotters Cup to notch his first Group 1 victory.
Driven by Anthony Butt, Kvintet Avenger – a seven-year-old by Love You out of Nobes Hanover – rated 2:02.9 for a neck win over Kyvalley Blur over 3009 metres.
“The Menangle race had been the aim,” Lilley said.
“Now it’s onto the Great Southern Star.
“He’s got three or four track records and won a Group 1 race. He’s done a great job.”
Lilley said Kyvalley Blur was heading to the Great Southern Star also provided he gets a run.
“He peaked on his run with 100 metres to go so the 3000 metres was probably just a bit far,” Lilley said.
“But he’s finding form at the right time.”
Despite Lilley’s trotters firing ahead of the $400,000 series at Tabcorp Park Melton, the Bolinda trainer admits defeating hotpots Keystone Del and Stent will be an almost impossible task.
“I think it’s definitely between those two,” he said.
“They’re the benchmark trotters in Australasia at the moment. They’re head and shoulders above the rest.”