It was a show-stopping and intensely close finish as the highly experience trotter, ten-year-old Solar Active ($5.60) beat home Gavlenn Ryoshy ($5.20) by merely a half-head with the $2.30 favourite Danny Bouchea just a half-neck back for third.

River Red set the pace early on, but Solar Active, who had a solid start from his 10m handicap mark, crossed the pacemaker on the second lap before the eventual winner’s driver Chris Alford found himself trailing the favourite Danny Bouchea at the bell. But the Sundown gelding took full advantage of the sprint lane to charge home first in the 2645m standing start event, clocking a sharp mile rate of 2:03.8.

The other major harness events held at Globe Derby on Saturday night were two elite pacing events, the Group 1 SEW-Eurodrive SA Derby taken out by Renaissance Man, and the Group 1 SA Cup where Mister Zion ran a fast finishing first.

2010 SA Trotters Cup Results:

Sure to feature hugely in the race is Simon Tappertit, the trotter on fire recently winning their last five starts. Another trotter to watch is the ever consistent Lady Bellanique, the Lane Johnson trained and driven horse starting from barrier seven.

The SA Trotters Cup is the first major race on the card for Saturday night, running as race three at 7:22pm.

Other feature harness racing events on the night include two sensational pacing events, the $30 000 Group 1 SEW-Eurodrive SA Derby (race four) and the much awaited $100 000 Group 1 SA Cup (race six).

Following the SA Trotters Cup, the next feature trots race held this weekend is the $10 000 Horsham Trotters Cup in Victoria on Sunday.

Globe Derby Race Programme – Saturday Night January 9:

SA Trotters Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw: