12 top trotters are engaged in the testing 2240m, headlined by Chris Lang’s brilliant and ever consistent gelding Sundons Gift drawn wide in barrier 12.

The outstanding Inter Dominion Trotting Champion is seemingly unstoppable and is coming off a succession of sensational victories including his last-start win in the Group 1 Sunnyfield Trotters Mile.

Last year Sundons Gift claimed victory in both the Inter Dominion and Maori’s Idol Memorial. This year he made it back-to-back Inter Dominion success and on Friday he will look to make it back-to-back wins in the Maori’s Idol too.

Despite the less than ideal barrier draw Sundons Gift will still start as the odds-on favourite and has the speed, ability, form and determination to overcome the wide draw and will be the one to beat.

Lang also has Kyvalley Mac starting in the Maori’s Idol Memorial, the Earl gelding having secured the prized barrier one. Kyvalley Mac will be driven by Ben Gledhill as Lang drives his star Sundons Gift.

Other starters in the trotting feature at the meeting include the Lance Justice trained and driven Earl Of Mot drawn well in barrier two, Graeme Lang’s last start winner Sosoclassy, Joe Bro in barrier six coming off a last start fifth in the Sunnyfiled Trotters Cup, and the Gary Hoban-trained Acacia Ridge out wide in 11.

The M.E. Bell Projects Maori’s Idol Memorial is programmed as race six on the night’s cracker nine-race card and is scheduled to start at 9:12pm (VIC time).

2010 Maori’s Idol Memorial Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Sundons Gift is now a six-time Group 1 winner following his win in the Sunnyfield Trotters Mile

Brilliant eight-year-old trotter Sundons Gift claimed another impressive feature when he took out the 2010 Sunnyfield Trotters Mile, giving the Chris Lang trained and driven son of Sundon his 30^th career victory from 58 starts and his sixth Group 1 success.

Sundons Gift started the race as the hot $1.10 favourite and led throughout the 1609m mobile start sprint after jumping well from barrier three. The classy Inter Dominion champion held strong to defeat local mare Misschells ($25.30), who had a great run behind the leader all the way, by 3.6m.

It was a photo finish for third with the highly seeded Cillas Earl ($7) 7m back from the winner after racing out wide, just a fraction in front of long priced roughie La Mosca ($108) only 0.1m further back.

Sundons Gift narrowly missed out on the Australian mile record of 1:56.2, running a sharp 1:56.3.

2010 NSW Sunnyfield Trotters Mile Results:

The 2010 Sunnyfield Trotters Mile has attracted a star-studded field of 11 horses highlighted by Chris Lang’s brilliant Inter Dominion Trotting Champion Sundons Gift.

Lang will drive Sundons Gift on Sunday afternoon as the in-form trotter goes for his fourth successive race victory, which would be the 30^th of his impressive career.

The experienced and consistent Sundon gelding has drawn ideally in barrier three and will be the one to beat on Sunday.

A top class field of rivals will be out to stop Sundons Gift including Solar Active (br. 2), the Michael Marais-trained Cillas Earl (br.6), Ronerail (br.7), Peter Manning’s recent Terang Trotters Cup winner Joe Bro (br. 9) and Acacia Ridge starting on the far outside from barrier 11.

Another interesting Trotters Mile starter is the Darren Hancock trained and driven Misscshells in barrier two. The Sundon filly has had a substandard strike rate throughout her career winning only eight of her 51 starts but has improved tremendously in the last year and is coming off a string of impressive runs. Having secured the prized barrier one, Misscshells looks a decent chance for a place here at good odds.

The Group 1 Sunnyfield Trotters Mile is scheduled as race five on the afternoon’s dazzling ten event programme and is due to jump at 3:10pm.

2010 NSW Sunnyfield Trotters Mile Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Due to be driven by Nathan Jack, Thepowerofhealing is the only last-start winner in the 11 horse final field. The Maori’s Idol filly is looking for her 18^th career win but has drawn poorly with barrier ten.

Coming off a last start third place to Joe Bro in the Terang Trotters Cup is the ever improving Red Samurai, starting this Saturday in the back row barrier 11. The Clinton Welsh trained and driven Sundon Colt will have to pull out near career best form to overcome this less than favourable draw, but a recent run in the Group 1 Inter Dominion Championship will have boosted their confidence and the drop back in class here will suit them.

Dream A Moment is another trotter who made it to the Inter Dominion Championship final this year. Dream A Moment ran dead last in the Inter Dominion and then could only manage to finish eight in the Terang Cup last weekend, but the Kerryn Manning trained and driven filly is looking to improve on her recent form and has drawn barrier seven for Saturday.

Neville Welsh’s Si Capisco is another sharp gelding to keep an eye on starting from barrier five.

Meanwhile, premier horseman Chris Lang has two of his trotters running in the Charlton Cup, Kyvalley Mirage drawn ideally in barrier two and Groovy Bromac in nine.

The Charlton & District Community Bank Charlton Trotters Cup will run as race five at the meeting’s great eight race programme and is due to jump at 6:29pm.

The other highlight harness event of the night is race seven (7:24pm), where 12 quality pacers will contest the $25, 000 Charlton Pacers Cup.

2010 Charlton Trotters Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Starting as the $3.90 favourite, the Peter Manning-trained Joe Bro beat home the Geoff Webster trained and driven Millburn Michael ($4.30) by a mere head with Red Samurai ($16.20) over 5m back for third.

It was a disappointing finish for some of the other fancied elects in the Cup including Dream A Moment ($7.50) in eighth, Earl Of Mot ($5.60) in ninth and Bete Noire ($8.60) who finished dead last. Bete Noire surprised many after starting badly and tiring terribly leading to a vets’ examination after the race.

Runner-up Milburn Michael was the leader at the bell despite a slow start. At the 800m mark Millburn Michael held the lead by a metre while Joe Bro was sitting out three wide. After a 33.3 second quarter, the eventual winner loomed up alongside Millburn Michael. The pair ran side by side throughout the 29.4 third quarter before Joe Bro went into the lead going into the home straight.

Millburn Michael pulled out all he had, putting the pressure on Joe Bro to maintain the lead. Although Millburn Michael’s last burst of acceleration shortened the winning margin to just a head, Joe Bro held onto the lead long enough to take out the title.

The fourth quarter was run in 29.1 and the mile rate was a solid 2:05.3.

The winning son of Sundon has now won eight of their 15 career starts for just over $57, 000 in prizemoney.

The other feature harness race at the meeting was the Terang & District Co-op Pacing Cup won by Ti Vogliobene ($9) 1.7m ahead of the $4.60 favourite Ohoka Nevada.

Also held over the weekend was the $10 000 Wangaratta Trotters Cup at Shepparton on Sunday where seven-year-old mare Thepowerofhealing claimed victory.

2010 Terang Trotters Cup Results:

11 top pacers from many of the country’s leading trainers and drivers are engaged in the 2680m standing start event including the Geoff Webster trained and driven Millburn Michael.

Drawn ideally in barrier one, the Hodonmyheart gelding has not had the best recent form but a good start may see his luck change here.

Another premier trainer with a runner in the Terang Cup is Lance Justice. Justice will be the reinsman behind Earl Of Mot on Saturday from barrier six. An experienced squaregaiter, Earl Of Mot has a sharp best winning mile rate of 1:56.2 and has amassed over $200 000 in prizemoney over his 15 career victories.

Although no last-start horses are running in the Terang Cup, Michelle Manning’s Bete Noire has displayed some really impressive and consistent recent form. Despite drawing awkwardly with barrier seven, the Sundon gelding is still has a real chance on Saturday.

Bete Noire is one of a number of Terang Cup starters coming off a run in the prestigious Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final who will appreciate the drop back in class on Saturday.

Bete Noire placed second-last in the Inter Dominion just ahead of Dream A Moment. Kerryn Manning’s Dream A Moment had a terrible time in the Inter Dominion and has suffered a blow to their run this Saturday having drawn the backrow barrier 11.

Red Samurai is another recent Inter Dominion Championship final qualifier, placing tenth. The Clinton Welsh-trained and driven Sundon colt will start from eight in the Terang Cup.

The Terang Trotters Cup is scheduled as race five at the meeting’s quality nine-event programme and is due to start at 8:30pm (VIC time). The other feature harness event at the meeting is the $25 000 Terang Pacing Cup (Race 7 – 9:32pm) where the Hollywood Bromac, Tear It All Away, Ohoka Nevada and Ti Vogliobene are all starring in.

Trotting fans will also enjoy the $10 000 Wangaratta Trotters Cup at Shepparton on Sunday.

2010 Terang Trotters Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Trained and driven by Chris Lang, last year’s winner Sundons Gift outclassed his rivals once again as the $1.60 favourite beat home shock second placegetter, Queensland-trained Kasyanov ($147) by an easy 9.5m with Lang’s other runner Skyvalley ($5.50) finishing off the trifecta a further 3.8m back.

Improving trotter Cillas Earl ($38) was a close fourth just ahead of Acacia Ridge ($18.70) in fifth.

Sundons Gift showed sensational speed from barrier one to take the lead early, running a first quarter of 29.7s. The third pre-race favourite, Gavin Lang’s Don King ($9.60) was in second place for the first quarter, but went to three wide by the middle before eventually tailing off to finish seventh.

After a 31.8s second quarter, Sundons Gift still held a 3m lead from Don King while eventual second-placegetter Kasyanov moved to the inside.

Running 28.9s over the third quarter Sundons Gift increased his lead on the final turn, running clear from the pack as Don King tiered, slipping back and making way for Kasyanov to move up to second place.

As the leader kept pulling away for a sensational win, his stablemate Skyvalley moved up to third on the outside.

The eight-year-old winning Sundon gelding clocked a smart mile rate of 2:01.0 in his 29^th victory from 57 career starts. The $142 500 in Saturday’s Inter Dominion winnings bought his overall career earnings to $789 673.

With the win Sundons Gift became only the second horse in history to secure back-to-back trotting Inter Dominion Championships, the first since New Zealand runner Pride Of Petite in 1996/1997, and the first Australian bred trotter to achieve the feat.

The victory may have been Sundons Gift’s second, but his trainer went one better as it was Lang’s third successive Inter Dominion win.

Runner-up Kasyanov also made history as the first Queensland trained trotter to not only make the Inter Dominion Grand Final, but place in the top three as well.

The $30 000 Group 2 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Consolation (2575m) was the other major trotting event at the meeting, won by Ronerail ($2.40) 4.7m ahead of Earl Of Mot ($9.50) with Chris Lang’s Kyvalley Mac ($32.40) in third.

2010 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Results:

The barrier draw for the highly anticipated event took place yesterday where the Chris Lang-trained and driven defending Inter Dominion champion Sundons Gift drew the prized barrier one.

The eight-year-old Sundon gelding claimed an emphatic victory in the second semi final last week and will start as the odds-on favourite for the final.

If Sundons Gift succeeds in Saturday’s final he will become just the second horse in history to win successive Inter Dominions alongside Pride Of Petite back in 1997.

Also drawing well was Gary Hoban’s Acacia Ridge. The in-form pacer placed second to Sundons Gift in last week’s final but will have his chance at revenge on Saturday.

Known as a promising fast starter Acacia Ridge, ensuring a good start, is sure to be close on the heels of the favourite all the way.

Chris Lang’s other trotter, Skyvalley, who in a shock defeat placed fifth in semi final one last week has drawn barrier seven.

Cillas Earl, the Michael Marais trained roughie who caused one of harness racings’ biggest upsets when he defeated Skyvalley in the semis, has also had luck with the barrier draw and will start from four.

In fact the entire front row is full of the favourites and those coming off great semi final runs, with the rest of the forward line occupied by Bete Noire in barrier 3, Heyzeal in barrier 5 and the brilliant Don King in barrier six.

The Michelle Manning-trained Bete Noire was the other roughie who had a smashing semi run coming in second behind Cillas Earl.

Heyzeal was the third placegetter in the second semi and Gavin Lang’s Don King, despite running fourth in the semis, is still a top class runner with plenty of ability to do well here.

Kasyanov in barrier nine may be sitting well down in the betting markets for the final, but has already made history being the first Queensland trained trotter to make the final field of an Inter Dominion Grand Final.

The SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Championship is scheduled as race five on the night’s elite and very lucrative 10-race programme, where over $1million in stakes are up for grabs, and is due to jump at 8:02pm (VIC time).

Other highlight harness events at the meeting are the $30 000 Group 3 4YO Bonanza (Race 2 – 6:30pm), the $30 000 Group 2 Inter Dominion Championship Consolation (Race 3 – 7:00pm) and the big ones for the pacing fans will be the $200 000 Group 1 Alabar Victoria Derby Final (Race 6 – 8:32pm) followed by the other Group 1 highlight of the night the $400 000 Group 1 BIG6 Hunter Cup (Race 8 – 9:30pm).

2010 Inter Dominion Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Moonee Valley Race Programme – Saturday 6 February:

Top trainer Chris Lang took out the quinella with Go Ahead Makemyday ($6) beating home stablemate Ten Commanders ($3.70) by a mere neck, with My Mate Claudy ($14.70) finishing third a distant 17m back.

Go Ahead Makemyday and Ten Commanders were both heat winners leading up to the final.

Chris Lang drove runner-up Ten Commanders who despite a slow start had a good run and was in front on the final turn.

Pre-race favourite, the Michael Marais trained and driven Jacob Oram ($2.20) had a bad start from barrier five but made up ground and was close on the heels of Ten Commanders at the bell.

Ten Commanders still held the lead coming into the home stretch before Go Ahead Makemyday with reinsman Chris Lang Junior made their move on the inside and the stablemates battled head to head down the final metres with Go Ahead Makemyday just pulling away in the end for the win.

The favourite, Jacob Oram dropped off just before the final turn, loosing pace and position to finish a disappointing seventh.

Lang had a sensational weekend, having secured his top two pacers Skyvalley and Sundons Gift in the Inter Dominion Championship final through the semis on Saturday at Ballarat.

The other highlight at the Wedderburn Harness Racing Club’s meeting was the Group 3 Central Victorian Pacing Championship Final, won by Gavin Lang’s $1.90 favourite Im Outtahere.

2010 Central Victorian Trotting Championship Results:

In a shock defeat and one of the biggest harness racing upsets in recent years, the highly fancied Chris Lang-trained champion Skyvalley nearly had his Inter Dominion dreams cut short when he only just managed to finish within the required top six to earn a spot in next Saturday’s final.

It was an unexpected finish in the first semi final when seven-year-old Cillas Earl ($25.30), trained and driven by Michael Marais, claimed a lengthy 4.3m victory ahead of extreme long-shot Bete Noire ($82.10) with Solar Active ($41.10) 1.3m further back for third.

Fourth place went to another roughie, Red Samurai ($94.30) who defeated the pre-race favourite at the shortest possible TAB price, $1.04, Skyvalley by 1.5m. It was a strong finish for Red Samurai who sat in last place as they passed the 800 metres.

Five-year-old Skyvalley started sensationally, displaying good speed from gate six. After sitting three wide early, driver Chris Lang Jnr. had the Muscles Yankee colt leading at the bell by nearly 5m. But Skyvalley pulled hard in the lead, running himself ragged after a blistering 29.7 first quarter, which was the fastest of the race.

Skyvalley was then overtaken by Cillas Earl on the final turn and failed to come back or threaten the lead again.

Chris Lang was soon smiling again though, when he took out the second semi with his star Sundons Gift.

The champion eight-year-old Sundon gelding started as the $1.40 favourite and proved why when he ran a great all the way win, defeating early leader Acacia Ridge ($1.90) by 3.2m with Heyzeal a distant third nearly 9m back from the winner.

Second favourite Don King ($5.20) came in fourth followed by Dream A Moment with Kasyanov finishing off the six final qualifiers.

The Grand Final of the Inter Dominion will take place at Moonee Valley this Saturday, February 6, with the barrier draw for the event happening this Tuesday.