Trots

This Friday night Tabcorp Park in Melton, Victoria is set to host the next leg of the trotting Grand Circuit, the $100 000 Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix (2240m).

Aiming at his third successive victory in the event is the Chris Lang-trained Sundons Gift. The eight-year-old veteran has drawn ideally with barrier three and looks a strong chance to make it a trotting Grand Prix hat-trick. Sundons Gift, the defending Inter Dominion trotting champion, will come up against in-form stablemate Skyvalley on Friday, who is aiming at his seventh consecutive victory. Four-year-old Skyvalley will start from barrier nine following the scratching of first emergency False Gem and it is certain to be an anticipated showdown between Lang’s two boom horses.

Previous Victoria Trotters Derby champion Springbank Richard also drew well and will have the inside running from barrier one. The Kiwi trotter is coming off a last start victory in the Dominion Handicap and will be tough to beat.

Also set to start in the front line are local stars Save A Sixpence (br. 2), Ronerail (br. 4) and last year’s Sky Channel Dullard Cup champion Viva La Fever (br. 7).

Another Kiwi visitor to watch is the up-and-coming squaregaiter In Pursuit (br. 11). The Michael Marias-trained son of Monarchy is a truly emerging talent looking to set himself up as the new trotting champion.

The SEW-Eurodrive Australian Trotting Grand Prix will run as race seven on the night’s nine race programme.

Other feature trotting races taking place around the country this weekend include the $15 000 Yarra Valley Trotters Cup in Victoria on Friday and the $10 000 Wedderburn Trotters Cup at Maryborough on Sunday.

2009 Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix Final Field & Barrier Draw: