The Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit action has now switched to Melbourne.
And within the space of a week, racing fans will embrace champagne harness racing at its best with the running of the Gr.1 $400,000 Good Form Victoria Cup followed by the Gr.1 $500,000 Del Re National Food Group Hunter Cup.
Both events are vastly different, the Victoria Cup is a mobile start contest staged over the middle distance of 2240m while the Hunter Cup is a standing start event run over the marathon distance of 3280m.
It’s a true test for both horse and driver.
While the Victoria Cup is not as deep-seated with history as other features on the calendar, it clearly holds a special place and it’s a race that every owner, trainer and driver dearly wants to win.
First run back in 1974 at the Melbourne Showgrounds and known as the Winfield Gold Cup over the distance of 2538m, Kings Mead proved successful while the following year it was King Frost who tasted glory, both races staged under standing start conditions.
Sweeping changes soon followed, it was moved to Moonee Valley and the event became a mobile start contest run at a distance of 2400m and the big names were quickly drawn to this growing event.
Champion names like Don’t Retreat, Paleface Adios, Koala King, Frosty Imp, Popular Alm and Preux Chevalier all managed to have their name inscribed on the honour roll before further changes were made.
Koala King is the first and only horse to win the great race three times (1978,79 & 80).
The event was not held in 1985 but returned under a new format in 1987, the race was now being staged over 2380m received a massive prizemoney boost and connections were chasing the $250,000 up for grabs.
And the leading stables of Bob and Vin Knight soon dominated the race, already successful with Popular Alm (1982 & 83) followed up by Bag Limit and Sinbad Bay.
Both pacers were dual winners with Queensland pacer Sovereign Cloud splitting them after pulling off a monstrous betting sting in 1990.
Within an eight year period, the Knight stable had won the race six times.
During the 1990’s, the race became a primary target for New Zealand trained pacers to focus on with names like Franco Ice, Master Musician, Chokin, Desperate Comment, Brabham and Holmes DG all making successful raids on the Victorian feature.
Star local Golden Reign thwarted the Kiwi raid with his dominant display in 1995.
At the turn of the century, the locals reclaimed their great race with the likes of Breenys Fella and Shakamaker both winning while New South Wales pacer Jofess also proved successful.
The race soon returned to New Zealand soil after Young Rufus demonstrated his great ability before Double Identity, Sokyola, Be Good Johnny, Blacks A Fake, Robin Hood and Melpark Major all proved victorious.
The switch from Moonee Valley to its current home of Melton took place in 2009 and again the prizemoney was lifted with the first winner being the New Zealand trained Bettors Strike while North American pacer Mr Feelgood created headlines in 2010.
The great Smoken Up followed by Caribbean Blaster and For A Reason claimed the prize while the latest winner was Kiwi ace Christen Me.
And the Trans-Tasman rivalry looks set to continue this year with the clash between Inter Dominion hero Lennytheshark and the highly decorated Kiwi pacer Smolda.
The pair staged an epic battle last week in the Ballarat Cup with the Kiwi snaring the prize.
The Mark Purdon trained Smolda has landed gate four while Lennytheshark has drawn gate seven, the outside of the front-line.
Talented pacer Bling It On caught the eye last week in the Ballarat with a solid third and will command plenty of respect despite being landed with another second-line draw in a feature event, the American Ideal entire will start from gate 10.
Dual WA Pacing Cup winner My Hard Copy has flown east to contest the Cup but his chances have nosedived after drawing gate 13, the outside of the second-line.
Last start SA Cup winner Flaming Flutter has drawn ideally with the inside gate and looms as a genuine threat while classy pacers Messini (2) and Franco Nelson (3) have also drawn well.
Former kiwi pacer Mister Mundaka, a noted beginner has also drawn the front-line and will start from gate 5 for Cup winning team of Andy and Kate Gath.
Locally trained performers Hotasel (8), Major Crocker (9) and It Is Billy (12) all face difficult second-line draws while the New Zealand trained Mossdale Conner (11) also faces a tricky assignment.
Another great shakedown between Australia and New Zealand awaits us and another great name will be etched into the record books.
The Victoria Cup is race 7 and is scheduled to start at 9.30pm local time.