Trained and driven by Gavin Lang, Don King started the race as the $2 favourite and went on to win just a head in front of Acacia Ridge ($12.20) who led on the outside right until the final meters, with Lang’s other consistent trotter, Save A Sixpence ($4.40) driven by Lang’s son Chris, finishing off the trifecta in third. Save A Sixpence has now placed in five Group 1 finals.

Don King ran a sharp mile rate of 2:04.6 in his first Group 1 victory, a career best for the six-year-old Sundown gelding, and brought his impressive career record to 15 wins from 25 starts, eight from nine this season.

Saturday’s victory has ensured Don King with a spot in the SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Trotting Championship that begins on January 30 at Ballarat, where the talented trotter will come up with top-line rivals including Sundons Gift and Skyvalley.

The other anticipated feature events of the meeting were the $25 000 Harness Breeders VIC Gold Chalice, $20 000 SEW-Eurodrive New Year Sprint and the $20 000 Harness Breeders VIC Richmond Lass. The Wayne Potter-trained Morgan Abby took out the Gold Chalice, securing her third win from four starts this season.

2010 V L Dullard Trotters Cup Final Results:

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: