Between them Kerryn Manning and Chris Alford have won the past 10 Australian drivers' premierships, but it's not their prowess in the sulky that has them in the spotlight.
The champion freelance drivers have also turned their hand to training in recent years and both are poised to enjoy their biggest success in that vocation this weekend.
Manning, who turned 30 a week ago, trains the ironically named Donttellmehetrots - the $3 TAB Sportsbet favourite for Sunday's ANZ Redwood Classic at Maryborough.
The pacing-bred juvenile rocketed to favouritism in the nation's most prestigious juvenile trotting classic with an all-the-way win in Monday's The Maori Legend at Stawell.
She's hoping Donttellmehetrots can emulate the feats of Andys Favourite who claimed the inaugural The Maori Legend en route to his Redwood triumph 12 months ago.
"He went pretty nice at Stawell," Manning said, adding that the horse has always shown above average ability, but his manners let him down early in his career.
"He definitely likes standing starts though which is handy," she said. "He's always gone away and drawn barrier four I think he'll be hard to beat."
"He's a strong sort of horse and bowling along out in front like he did at Stawell really suits him."
On the same program, Alford will gear up exciting three-year-old Conquer All, the $3 second elect with TAB Sportsbet for the $75,000 Group 1 HRI Victoria Trotters Derby.
The lightly raced Kiwi import is unbeaten in three starts for Alford, including the Group 3 Holmfield, after crossing the Tasman with just one minor placing to his name.
Alford is hoping to emulate the feats of his late father Barry who trained and drove former cult hero Noopy Kiosk to success in the 1996 Victoria Trotters Derby.
"It would a highlight if I could win this race," Alford said. "It's not going to be easy, but I think he's got a very good chance if he gets a decent trip."
"He's got such a powerful sprint that the speed of the race really doesn't matter too much....if he's near them at the top of the straight he'll be hard to hold out."
