Great Southern Star to redefine Australasian Trotting
Australasian squaregaiting has taken its boldest step toward internationalisation with Harness Racing Victoria’s (HRV) launch of an Elitlopp-style trotting series worth $350,000.
The piece de resistance of an industry-wide move to highlight the trotter, HRV has named the series the “Great Southern Star”, which will commence in March 2013 and includes ambitious eligibility and race conditions.
Invitations to compete will be offered to all Australasian Trotting Grand Circuit winners plus the victors of selected races including tomorrow night’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Final for four-year-old trotters.
ANZAC Cup, Rowe Cup and NZ Trotting Champs winner I Can Doosit and Breed for Speed Gold Series champion Cold Sister have already reserved a place in the new feature. Squaregaiters throughout Australasia will get their chance to qualify via races staged in every trotting state of Australia and both New Zealand islands. Two invitations will also also be reserved for trotters trained in the Northern Hemisphere who would be ideally suited by the event’s European-inspired conditions. Modelled on Sweden’s universally revered Elitlopp, the Great Southern Star will feature two Group 1 heats worth $50,000 and a $250,000 final all run on the same Tabcorp Park programme. Both heats will be drawn randomly staged over Melton’s 1720m trip with 10 horses progressing to the decider later in the day. “HRV is delighted to be announcing one of the vital components of our Strategic Plan relating to the internationalisation of our product,” HRV Chairman Ken Latta said. “We have key people investing in the trotting gait and I am sure the Great Southern Star will be something for them to aim for. Today’s announcement reinforces Victoria’s standing as the ‘Home of the Trotter’.”
Victorian squaregaiting doyen Chris Lang is one of many excited by the Great Southern Star’s Northern Hemisphere format and appeal to the global trotting community. “The Great Southern Star is a very exciting concept because it’s something the rest of the world can relate to,” Lang said. “I have no doubt it will become the focal point of the trotting calendar. “What I dream about is a horse from down under winning the Great Southern Star and then going over to win the Elitlopp. The way this race is structured that dream is not far-fetched at all.” Squaregaiting’s international reach will be emphasised with a showcase 10 minute broadcast of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series four-year-old trotting final airing directly into France from 8.34pm tomorrow night. Further evidence of the squaregaiting’s progression in Victoria will be highlighted with upcoming announcements in regard to a Premier yearling sale for trotters to be held in conjunction with the new event. The conditions of the Great Southern Star will be published in the Harness Racer and are available on www.harness.org.au.
-ends-
For Further Information: Jason Bonnington – Communications Coordinator
P: (03) 8378 0241, E: [email protected]
Twitter: @HRVnews & @Tabcorp_Park
Facebook: www.facebook.com/harnessracingvictoria
The piece de resistance of an industry-wide move to highlight the trotter, HRV has named the series the “Great Southern Star”, which will commence in March 2013 and includes ambitious eligibility and race conditions.
Invitations to compete will be offered to all Australasian Trotting Grand Circuit winners plus the victors of selected races including tomorrow night’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Final for four-year-old trotters.
ANZAC Cup, Rowe Cup and NZ Trotting Champs winner I Can Doosit and Breed for Speed Gold Series champion Cold Sister have already reserved a place in the new feature. Squaregaiters throughout Australasia will get their chance to qualify via races staged in every trotting state of Australia and both New Zealand islands. Two invitations will also also be reserved for trotters trained in the Northern Hemisphere who would be ideally suited by the event’s European-inspired conditions. Modelled on Sweden’s universally revered Elitlopp, the Great Southern Star will feature two Group 1 heats worth $50,000 and a $250,000 final all run on the same Tabcorp Park programme. Both heats will be drawn randomly staged over Melton’s 1720m trip with 10 horses progressing to the decider later in the day. “HRV is delighted to be announcing one of the vital components of our Strategic Plan relating to the internationalisation of our product,” HRV Chairman Ken Latta said. “We have key people investing in the trotting gait and I am sure the Great Southern Star will be something for them to aim for. Today’s announcement reinforces Victoria’s standing as the ‘Home of the Trotter’.”
Victorian squaregaiting doyen Chris Lang is one of many excited by the Great Southern Star’s Northern Hemisphere format and appeal to the global trotting community. “The Great Southern Star is a very exciting concept because it’s something the rest of the world can relate to,” Lang said. “I have no doubt it will become the focal point of the trotting calendar. “What I dream about is a horse from down under winning the Great Southern Star and then going over to win the Elitlopp. The way this race is structured that dream is not far-fetched at all.” Squaregaiting’s international reach will be emphasised with a showcase 10 minute broadcast of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series four-year-old trotting final airing directly into France from 8.34pm tomorrow night. Further evidence of the squaregaiting’s progression in Victoria will be highlighted with upcoming announcements in regard to a Premier yearling sale for trotters to be held in conjunction with the new event. The conditions of the Great Southern Star will be published in the Harness Racer and are available on www.harness.org.au.
-ends-
For Further Information: Jason Bonnington – Communications Coordinator
P: (03) 8378 0241, E: [email protected]
Twitter: @HRVnews & @Tabcorp_Park
Facebook: www.facebook.com/harnessracingvictoria
