The Trotting Masters Grand Circuit, sponsored by Australian Pacing Gold wraps up this Friday night.
The five leg series has provided exciting racing spread across two countries and defending champion Stent has again proved to be the master squaregaiter.
Prepared by Colin and Julie DeFilippi, Stent has proved victorious in the Australian Trotting Grand Prix and the Great Southern Star, both event were staged in Melbourne at Melton.
Last week, Stent went down fighting when a game second behind Sheemon in a thrilling finish to the ANZAC Cup at Alexandra Park, Auckland.
The Gr.1 $150,000 Canam Rowe Cup is the final leg of the Trotting Masters series, a grueling 3200m stand-start feature to be staged at Alexandra Park.
The major North Island open class trot feature was first staged back in 1918 when won by Whisht.
Since then, the honour roll boasts some of the best trotting names of all-time including Waikaha, Neil Volo, Great Admiral, Aerial Scott, Special Pride, Sir Castleton, Landora’s Pride, Yankee Loch, David Moss, Diamond Field and Merinai among others.
In more recent times, the list includes Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, One Over Kenny, I Can Doosit, Stig and last year’s victor Master Lavros.
Australian trained stars that have crossed the ditch and triumphed include Wagon Apollo, La Coocaracha and Sundons Gift.
There will be no Australian representatives this year.
Stent has contested each and every leg of the Trotting Masters series this year and has amassed 265 points while his nearest rival Sheemon has 167 points.
Like Stent, Sheemon has also contested every leg of the series and his crowning glory was last week in the ANZAC Cup.
Jaccka Justy is the winner of the opening leg of the series, the Dominion Handicap staged at Addington in Christchurch.
While Stent and Sheemon will both prove very hard to beat again this week, they will face strong challengers in defending champion Master Lavros plus rising stars King Denny and Mum’s Pride.
Surprisingly, the Rowe Cup has failed to attract to a capacity sized field but the depth in quality ensures another fascinating chapter in the history of the famed feature trotting event.