In the two editions of the $600,000 Trot Slot in Cambridge, the Great Southern Star has proven to be the defining form line.
And this year looks no different.
In 2024, the great Just Believe defeated Callmethebreeze, Queen Elida and Arcee Phoenix.
Just a few months earlier at the Great Southern Star it was Callmethebreeze who defeated Just Believe, with Arcee Phoenix finishing fifth and Queen Elida seventh.
Last year it was another Australian, Arcee Phoenix, who took the lead and won the TAB Trot against The Locomotive and Queen Elida.
All three came via the Great Southern Star.
Arcee Phoenix ran only fifth in a heat and was ruled out of the final by vets, but The Locomotive (second) and Queen Elida (fourth) chased down upset winner Watts Up Partytime in the final.
The Aussies will be in force again this year for the Trot Slot at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 10.
And at least three of the top hopefuls – Keayang Zahara, Jilliby Ballerini and Arcee Phoenix – are lining up for the Great Southern Star tonight.
The two outliers are Queenslander Gus, who stayed at home, and French import Kristal Josselyn, who was not quite ready in time for the Great Southern Star.
Gus, who scored the Group 1 big double during NZ Cup Week, returned for his first run since overcoming a 40m handicap to win at Albion Park last Saturday evening.
Powerful Team Lee is expected to take two slots in the Trot Slot, with Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini the logical runners.
But they also have the rising Jilliby Dreamlover, who battles for favoritism with Arcee Phoenix in the second of tonight’s Great Southern Star heats (9.01pm).
“She has a great chance of leading that heat and if she does it will be difficult to beat her,” said co-trainer Paddy Lee.
But Keayang Zahara is the headline act with 23 wins from 24 starts, including 12 at Group 1 level.
Victory in the Great Southern Star final (11.33pm) earns her a new $500,000 bonus and levels her with great Kiwi Take A Moment with 13 wins in Group 1, the second most by a trotter in Australasia.
Considering Keayng Zahara just turned five, if she stays healthy she will sail past Lyell Creek’s record of 15 Group 1 wins.
With all the great trotting opportunities in Auckland, such as the Anzac and Rowe Cups, Keayang Zahara could well break that record in New Zealand.
And at 10.35pm it’s the Hunter Cup, with the big Kiwi Hope Republic Party taking on the big three of the Aussies, Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Kingman.
Click to see the Hunter Cup field here
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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