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.

The eight-year-old son of Sundon started as the warm pre-race favourite at $1.90 and lived up to all expectations when he beat home the second elect Acacia Ridge ($2.80) in the champion square-gaiter’s first start in six weeks.

The bookies had it spot on for the event, as the third favourite starter Armed Guard ($12.20) finished off the trifecta.

The in-form Acacia Ridge showed tremendous gate speed from his front row barrier two setting the pace as the early leader.

On the last lap with 800m to go, Gary Hoban’s Acacia Ridge still held the lead with Sundons Gift second on the outside.

On the home straight it was a battle of the big guns as the two top trotters fought for the Cochran Cup title. Class prevailed in the end as the skilled veteran Sundons Gift eased ahead and crossed the line first by 2.3m.

Trained and driven by Chris Lang, the reigning Australian Trotting Grand Prix champion Sundons Gift clocked an impressive mile rate of 2:03.9 after overcoming his wide barrier to claim victory in the $30 000 feature, bringing his career stakes to over $620 000.

Lang’s other runner, Kyvalley Mac, finished sixth behind Pepperell Dancer with the Michael Marais-trained In Pursuit coming in fourth.

The victory further ensured that Sundons Gift is on track to defend his coveted Inter Dominion Championship title, which kicks off this Saturday with the semi final round at Ballarat.

2010 E B Cochran Trotters Cup Results:

It is a start studded field for the next feature trotting event, with many big names set to line up including the Michael Marais-trained In Pursuit and Chris Lang’s Sundons Gift.

In Pursuit has drawn barrier seven while last month’s Australian Trotting Grand Prix champion Sundon’s Gift has a bit of work to do from the barrier 11.

Despite the wide draw, the prolific Sundon’s Gift is still sure to start as the favourite, the bay gelding the most experienced and highest earning trotter on the field having won nearly $600 000 in prizemoney. He is coming off a last start second place to Skyvalley in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint back in December.

Chris Lang also has Kyvalley Mac entered in the 2690m staying event, starting from barrier nine.

Meanwhile, New Zealand bred Armed Guard has secured the inside running with barrier one and will start beside the highly fancied and ever-consistent Acacia Ridge, trained and driven by Gary Hoban.

Acacia Ridge, runner-up to Don King in the Group 1 VL Dullard Cup earlier in the month, is the only horse on the field coming off a last-start victory.

The big pacing event at the meeting is the $50 000 Group 2 Shepparton Gold Cup (race 7) with other highlights of the night including the $25 000 The Lombo 2YO Fillies Final (race 2) and the $25 000 The Lombo 2YO Colts & Geldings Final (race 8).

The EB Cochran Trotters Cup is scheduled as race five on the night’s cracker nine-race programme, set to start at 8:30pm (VIC time).

2010 Cochran Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

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:

The brilliant squaregaiter In Pursuit ($7.90) followed up his excellent win in the Group 3 Chris Howe Trotters Cup last start by claiming victory again ahead of an elite field in 3:32.7.

The bay gelding (by Monarchy out of Going Alone) defeated the $2.30 favourite Don King, ridden by Daryl Douglas, by 11.8m with Save A Sixpence and Graeme Lang a further four meters back in third.

In Pursuit’s trainer Michael Marais now plans to take his rapidly improving trotter to the Victoria Cup Carnival where In Pursuit will come up against star trotter Skyvalley.

The other feature race of the night was the St Arnaud Sporting Cub Pacing Cup (2760m) won by the up-and-coming Victorian harness star Jaccka Clive. The David Aiken-trained winner went out as the clear favourite at $2.40 and proved why by defeating Romeo Castle by 6.2m with Harry Walton in third.

Weirs St Arnaud Supa IGA Trotters Cup Results:

The bay gelding by Monarchy (USA) out of Going Alone (NZ) driven by M. Marais scored a 2m victory ahead of runner-up Dream A Moment ($3.20) with the odds-on favourite starting the race, Ronerail ($3.00), coming in third some 8.2m from the winner. It was an impressive victory despite In Pursuit’s driver being fined, In Pursuit clocked a gross time of 3.38.8.

Runner-up Dream A Moment and K. Manning surrendered the lead early and were behind the leader and eventual winner In Pursuit by the bell. The emerging trotting star and early favourite for the race, Heyzeal, was a late scratching reducing the final field to nine trotters.

In Pursuit’s next race start will be this Friday night at Tabcorp Park Melton in the $12 000 Weirs St Arnaud Supa IGA Cup.

Group 3 Chris Howe Trotters Cup Results:

Scratchings:

HEYZEAL (LATE)

A warm favourite for the event is In Pursuit, coming off a last start victory in the Chris Howe Trotters Cup. Prior to the Group 3 win, In Pursuit has displayed consistently great form placing second in their previous four starts.

Another in-form trotter coming off four successive wins is Lang’s Don King driven by Daryl Douglas.

The Weirs St Arnaud Supa IGA Trotters Cup is scheduled as race five on the bumper nine race programme on Saturday night and is due to commence at 8:40pm.

St Arnaud Trotters Cup Final Field:

Second Row:

Tabcorp Park Melton Race Programme – Friday November 20:

The $20 000 Chris Howe will be the Victorian trotter’s most challenging test to date as she aims to maintain her undefeated Australian record of three from three.

The Dean Braun-trained Heyzeal is coming from a tight but impressive win in the Goulburn Murray Credit Union Kilmore Trotters Cup on SEW Eurodrive Kilmore Cup Day, which bought her record to eight wins from 21 career starts. All of her victories have been by small margins, a slight concern for Braun who puts the marginal wins down to her tendency to pull last start whilst racing midfield, which is common to her breed.

Daughter of extraordinary sire Sundown, five-year-old Heyzeal is fast rising through the nation’s trotting ranks along with her champion driver Gavin Lang. Braun hopes to evolve the promising trotter from emerging start to top-flight runner.

Her competition will be stiff on Saturday night as she comes up against a quality field of trotters including the refreshed Ronerail returning from a short break, and the ever consistent In Pursuit.

The Chris Howe Trotters Cup is scheduled as the eighth race on the nine race program at Melton on Saturday night, moved from the traditional Friday night timeslot to correspond with the presentation of the annual Gordon Rothacker medal. The Gordon Rothacker medal will be awarded to an individual to acknowledge their exceptional and continual contribution to harness racing in Victoria.

Other notable races held on the night include the four heats of the Spring Championship.

Group 3 Chris Howe Trotters Cup Final Field:

Tabcorp Park Melton Race Programme – Saturday 14^th November: