SA TROTS - Big guns on track to defend Southern Cross crowns

Four new Southern Cross champions will be crowned and another four will be looking to defend their titles on Southern Cross Finals night at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Heading the vanguard will be No Notthebuttons, last year’s two-year-old champion, who will launch his bid for back-to-back Southern Cross titles from the No. 6 gate in the $35,000 Alabar sponsored three-year-old colts and geldings’ decider.

A convincing end-to-end heat winner, the Emma Stewart trained star will lock horns with fellow heat victor Hezrockinroyal, last year’s Final placegetter Bay Jim Major and the consistent Tonkawaikon.

Three former Southern Cross winners in Urbadboy (3YO – 2020), He’s All Torque (2YO - 2022) and Lifeisbutadream (3YO – 2023) will contest the Ladbroke’s Southern Cross for four-year-old and older entires and geldings.

Splash Of Paynt and Always Dancing, the decisive heat winners from last week and both placegetters in the Golden Nursery before that, will go head-to-head in the $35,000 Cobbitty Equine Farm Final for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Splash Of Paynt, the most experienced runner in the series, will began his quest for Listed glory from the No. 6 gate, while Always Dancing, the winner of six of his eight tries, will start from outside the back row.

The Victorian raider Brighton, also trained by Emma Stewart, put up the fastest time of the heats at 1:54.4, and she looks to have the $35,000 Cobbitty Equine Farm Final for two-year-old fillies at her mercy.

The brilliant local filly Elusive, runner-up in the SA Oaks and the NSW Breeders Challenge Final, appears to have a mortgage on the $35,000 decider for the Alabar Southern Cross for three-year-old fillies.

Big Black Betty, a member of the Jill Neilson-Katie Wilson barn, has the form and the barrier (No. 3) to annex the Ladbroke’s Final for four-year-old and older mares.

Meanwhile, Reoffender, who has won four on end including the Parker Classic, will start at cramped odds in the $20,000 Aldebaran Park Southern Cross Final for two-year-old trotters.

The Father Patrick gelding Bishop George, who finished second in the two-year-old leg, is expected to go one better in the $20,000 Final for three-year-olds.

SAHRC president Anne Mowday said: “The South Australian Harness Racing Club is thrilled to see so many local trainers, drivers and horses take part in the Southern Cross series as well as welcoming some of the best interstate talent to Globe Derby Park.

“There has been some excellent times recorded on the newly refurbished track with many of the local trainers and drivers excited about the additional prizemoney injected into meetings at Globe Derby Park made possible due to our collaboration with the Seymour Group.”  

The bumper eight-race card kicks off at 6.51pm (Adelaide time).