The 2015/16 Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters continues this weekend.
With two legs of the five race series already decided, it’s now make or break time as we head into in the $300,000 Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star at TABCORP Park, Melton this Saturday.
A heat/final concept staged on the SAME night staged over the 1720m distance.
And holding the whip hand is evergreen trotter Keystone Del, a co-leader in the Trotting Masters after his dominant display in the Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton last month.
Regarded as Australia’s best trotter, the winner of the Great Southern Star two years ago heads into this year’s series in peak form yet again following his effortless victory in track record time last week at Cranbourne in the Gr.1 $50,000 Aldebaran Park The Knight Pistol.
Keystone Del rated 1:56.1 for the 1609m event.
Now prepared by master trainer Brent Lilley, the Dr Ronerail gelding has won 5 of his 6 starts since joining the stable and has landed the inside gate in his qualifying heat.
Boom Kiwi trotter Speeding Spur looms as his biggest threat but must overcome gate six but his recent form is sensational highlighted by his victory last week at Alexandra Park where he overcame a 50m handicap which followed his monstrous performance in the Grand Prix when beaten narrowly by Keystone Del.
Prepared by father/son combination of John and Josh Dickie, Speeding Spur is a proven big race performer in Melbourne.
Other chances include Kyvalley Blur, Our Overanova, Leannes Boy and Daryl Boko.
In the opening heat, the Andy and Kate Gath prepared Glenferrie Typhoon looms as the hardest to beat after landing the inside gate.
Glenferrie Typhoon has won 3 of his 5 races this year with breaks made in the other two including last week at Cranbourne in The Knight Pistol behind Keystone Del.
Two starts ago, the Majestic Son gelding smashed the track record in the Maori Mile at Bendigo when leading throughout in a time of 1:54.4.
Star mare Claudys Princess chased valiantly when runner-up to Glenferrie Typhoon on that occasion and looms as a legitimate threat again this week.
Prepared by Mick Blackmore, Claudys Princess was responsible for an excellent effort in the Gr.1 Trotters Cup at TABCORP Park, Menangle last start after making a break in the final lap before regrouping to finish off well when fifth behind On Thunder Road.
Others that warrant respect in the opening heat include Maori Time, Super Zeck, Quite A Moment and Son Of Sonoko.
The $50,000 qualifying heats will be staged as races 3 and 4 while the $300,000 final is scheduled as race 9 on the program.
Hoofnote; the opening leg of the Trotting Masters was the Dominion staged at Addington in November and was won by Master Lavros.
