The first major event was the $50,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotters Final on Friday May 7 at Victoria’s Tabcorp Park. Earl gelding Mister Castleton took out the race after starting at $10.40 odds, holding off Backas Cobber by 1.3m with roughie Jingling Silver in third. The hot favourite, the Ross Graham-trained Rostevarren ran a well beaten sixth.

The next group trotting races were held at Ballarat Tabcorp Park the following weekend on Friday May 14. The first was the $50,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 4YO Trotters Final where premier trainer-driver Chris Lang took out the quinella. Lang drove the hot favourite Let Me Thru ($1.60) to a classy 5.4m win ahead of stablemate, $29.80 outisder Happy Maori, with Zanzi Bromac a distant third.

Also held on the night was the $20,000 Group 3 Knight Pistol Trotters Cup where Muscles Yankee gelding Lord Of The Gym, a half brother to earlier winner Le Me Thru, claimed victory over Lance Justice’s Earl Of Mot with Viva La Fever finishing off the trifecta. Odds-on favourite Ronerail gave up his early lead and faded to finish nearly 19m from the winner in eighth place.

The third Group 1 trotting event for the month took place at Harold Park on Friday the 21^st, when three-year-old filly Good Thanks gave reinsman Chris Lang another elite level win taking out the $20,000 Group 1 NSW Trotters Oaks.

The great trotting action continued right up to the final Friday night of the month when the $20,000 Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby at Harold Park was taken out by three-year-old gelding Backas Cobber, who had run second to Mister Castleton in the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Trotters Final at the start of the month, ahead of Bellingham with $1.80 favourite My High Expectations finishing third in the small seven-horse field.

Bookmark this site and return to see a detailed preview of the feature trots races in June.

The best place for all your trots betting is at online bookmaker IASbet who have generous odds open on all of Australia’s harness races.

A brilliant line-up of some of the nation’s best trotters are engaged for the 2010 Uncle Petrika FFA including Australia’s favourite squaregaiter Sundons Gift.

The talented Sundon gelding has drawn way back and out on Friday night in barrier 12. Coming off a brilliant succession of victories, the seemingly unstoppable Chris Lang-trained champion will again have Lang behind the reins as he attempts his 32^nd career victory.

Despite drawing awkwardly dual Inter Dominion champion Sundons Gift will start as the favourite

Despite the awkward draw, the dual Inter Dominion champion will still start as the odds-on favourite fresh up from a short spell.

Lang will also be represented by Earl gelding Kyvalley Mac drawn better in barrier five.

The level of competition Sundons Gift will face in the event is elite with two of his biggest threats drawn either side of him also in the backrow, Thepowerofhealing in barrier 11 and Ronerail in 13.

Ronerail recently ran a gallant second to Red Samurai in the Group 3 Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup, showing he could come from the back of the pack to challenge the winner.

Other classy contenders looking to secure the win on Friday night include Lance Justice’s duo Beleva drawn ideally in barrier one, and Earl Of Mot, who Justice will drive, also drawn well in four.

Punters and trotting fans can catch all the action of the 2010 Renown Silverware Uncle Petrika Trotters Free-For-All at 10:12pm when it runs as race eight on the night’s bumper nine-event card.

The programme also includes a number of great features for the pacers with the running of the $20,000 Mittys Youthful Stakes, heats of the Nevele R Stud Victoria Oaks and the $20,000 SEW-Eurodrive Sokyola Sprint featuring a the likes of Smoken Up and stablemate Our Malabar.

2010 Uncle Petrika Trotters FFA Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Eight quality squaregaiters are engaged in the 2575m standing start event including last start winner Armed Guard.

Due to be driven by Christopher Shinn, the Monarchy gelding has drawn ideally with barrier one for Sunday.

Drawn on the direct outside of Armed Guard in barrier two is the Daryl Woolcock-trained Pepperell Dancer, competing in the Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup for his third consecutive year. In 2008 the son of A Go Go Lauxmont claimed victory in the event before placing a gallant second to Just Glorious the next year.

Pepperell Dancer is competing in his third consecutive Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup

Talented runners Ronerail and Gary Hoban’s Acacia Ridge, coming off a gallant last start fourth in the Group 3 Maori’s Idol Memorial behind Sundons Gift, will start from a 20m and 30m handicap respectively, but are still two of the highest rated chances in the Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup.

Legendary horseman Lance Justice has his veteran Earl gelding Earl Of Mot starting from barrier five while the Clinton Welsh-trained and driven Red Samurai is in barrier four.

The 2010 Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup is scheduled as race seven, the closing race at Cranbourne on Sunday, and is due to jump at 4:50pm.

2010 Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

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:

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:

Both of the Group 2 status semi finals are worth $40 000 and will determine the final field of top trotters that will line up for the Group 1 final on February 6 at Moonee Valley.

The first semi final is headlined by the Chris Lang-trained Skyvalley in barrier six. The magnificent and highly promising Muscles Yankee colt has displayed some sensational recent form, winning four of his past five starts.

Skyvalley’s regular reinsman, Lang’s son Chris Junior will drive the popular trotter on Saturday night with Skyvalley sure to start as the odds-on favourite.

The Gavin Crone-trained Sunana Asset has drawn the prized inside barrier one, the Sundon colt coming off a last start victory at Albion Park.

And on the other end of the barriers, the Clinton Welsh-trained Red Samurai has drawn the outside barrier after being the last to secure a spot in the series following their win in Ouyen Trotters Cup back on January 15.

Lang, a trainer-driver from Nagambie, also has Sunny Elegant in barrier five while his leading squaregaiter and the defending champion Sundons Gift is engaged in the second semi.

The second semi final features a star studded field, and despite Sundons Gift’s class and proven ability, it will still be a highly competitive and entertaining race as the eight-year-old last start Group 2 E B Cochran Cup winner faces off against the likes of Acacia Ridge and Don King.

Acacia Ridge will be looking to atone for their second to Sundons Gift in the Cochran Cup last week, where despite Acacia Ridge’s favourable barrier two draw, Sundons Gift still managed victory after starting wide from barrier 11.

Still a consistent trotter, Acacia Ridge has drawn barrier five on Saturday and will be driven by trainer Gary Hoban.

Many eyes too will be on the Gavin Lang trained and driven Don King, the imposing gelding shares the same super sire as Sundons Gift, the US bred Sundon. Don King has been on fire recently, storming home to four successive victories and has drawn barrier eight.

Sundons Gift will head the betting markets as the top selection and will be driven by Lang from barrier seven.

All the starters in the second semi will move up a barrier position if the emergency Earl Of Mot, drawn in barrier one, does not gain a start. If this happens, the New Zealand bred In Pursuit will secure the inside running.

Pacing fans will also be treated on the night with the $125 000 Group 1 Ballarat Pacing Cup running as race seven at the action packed meeting.

The Inter Dominion Trotting Championship semis will run as races three (8:03pm) and six (9:30pm) on the night’s bumper nine-event programme.

One of the big names to watch out for is the Gavin Lang-trained Don King starting from barrier three. The ever-improving New Zealand trotter is coming off a sensational string of success, having won seven from eight race starts this season, placing second to In Pursuit in the other. The Sundon gelding has won 14 of his 25 career starts.

Lang, who will drive six-year-old Don King in the event after driving him to a super impressive victory in the heats, also has the 2009 Dullard Cup third placegetter, Save A Sixpence, contesting the Dullard. The consistently good horse, and four time Group 1 placegetter, jumping beside their stablemate from barrier four. Lang co-trains both of the runners, who have been installed as equal favourites in the pre-race betting markets following their favourable barrier draws, with his father Graeme.

Meanwhile, Lance Justice’s Earl Of Mot has secured barrier one in the 2760m standing start event with Dream A Moment, trained and driven by Kerryn Manning, drawing barrier two.

The V L Dullard Trotters Cup falls as race seven on the monster nine-race programme at Tabcorp Park on Friday night and is scheduled to start at 9:40pm (VIC time).

The other highlight race of the night to follow will be race eight, the $25 000 Harness Breeders VIC Gold Chalice at 10:10pm. Pre-post favourite for the Gold Chalice looks to be Lady Belladonna, the Vicbred Super Series and Tabcorp Breeders Crown second placegetter returning to the track following her sensational two-year-old season last year.

Also headlining the programme on Friday night will be the $20 000 SEW-Eurodrive New Year Sprint (1720m) and the $20 000 Harness Breeders VIC Richmond Lass for mares.

Tabcorp Park VIC Race Programme – Friday Night January 8:

V L Dullard Trotters Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw: