Armed Guard ($5) defeated Maori’s Idol Memorial third placegetter Look Here Bloke ($6.90) by 2.6m with Lord Of The Gym ($8.7) a further 5.9m back in third.

It was a disappointing finish for trainer driver Geoff Webster and his odds-on favourite Millburn Michael ($3.10) who was a well-beaten sixth after being held up at the start and unable to make up the ground.

The $10, 000 Gunbower Trotters Cup (2530m) was the other feature trotting event run over the weekend, won by classy mare Sharendoo Lass ($8.60) in an all-the-way win at Echuca on Sunday.

The six-year-old Wind Cries Maori mare made the most of their inside draw and beat home the Chris Lang-trained and driven Kyvalley Mirage ($6.40) by 6.4m with roughie Ollie Nova ($41) a fast finishing third.

Again it was an unlucky finish for the pre-race favourite with Thepowerofhealing ($1.8) coming in fourth after being forced to race out wide.

Firstly on Saturday night at Geelong the $10, 000 McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup will run as the second most lucrative race on the nine-race card.

11 classy trotters are engaged in the 2570m standing start event, including the Geoff Webster trained and driven Millburn Michael drawn ideally in barrier one.

The Holdonmyheart gelding is looking to atone for his poor last start efforts in the Hambletonian Trot where he started as the $1.70 favourite but broke under pressure finishing a dismal second last.

Millburn Michael faces some tough competition on Saturday night, including consistent filly Moni Bea in barrier two coming off a last start victory.

Gentlemans Honour is also worth keep an eye on despite drawing awkwardly with barrier seven as he aims for his third successive victory. The Safely Kept gelding has saluted in ten of his 31 career starts and will be driven by the talented Greg Sugars on Saturday night.

Look Here Bloke is coming off a gallant third place to Sundons Gift in the Maori’s Idol Memorial and looks well placed to finish in the money again on Saturday

Drawn on the outside of Gentlemans Honour in barrier eight is the improving Sundon gelding Look Here Bloke. Look Here Bloke is coming off a gallant third place to Sundons Gift in the Maori’s Idol Memorial and looks well placed to finish in the money again here.

The other harness racing feature held at Geelong at the Saturday meeting will be the $25, 000 Geelong Pacing Cup (Race 7 – 9:32pm). The McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup will take place earlier in the night as race five at 8:30pm.

Sunday the great trotting action continues with the $10, 000 Gunbower Trotters Cup at Gunbower, Echuca.

A small but quality field of seven horses are set to start in the 2530m standing start feature including the gifted Maori’s Idol mare Thepowerofhealing.

Drawn on the far outside in barrier seven the Charlton Trotters Cup winner will be ridden by Nathan Jack and looks well positioned to claim her fourth win from five starts.

Sharendoo Lass will enjoy the inside barrier while the Joe Attard trained and driven Kellys Nippa is another strong chance in barrier four.

The 2010 Cohuna Car Sales Gunbower Trotters Cup will run as race six on the evening’s exciting eight-race programme and is due to start at 7:56pm.

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: