A GREAT NIGHT FOR THE STARS

Reigning Inter Dominion champion The Locomotive.

7-time Group 1-winning mare Queen Elida.

3-time Group 1 winner and back-to-back Maori Mile winner Arcee Phoenix.

Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star placegetter Keayang Chucky.

NZ millionaire Oscar Bonavena.

These are the big names headlining the $290,000 Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star at Melton on Saturday, February 1.

It is a series with a difference - based on the same model as the world famous The Elitloppet in Sweden, with heats and finals contest on the same race program.

Two $20,000 heats of 10 starters will be run at 6.30pm and 7.07pm.

The first three placegetters in each plus the next fastest four across the heats will back up in a Group 1 $250,000 final over 1720m at 9.45pm.

The Great Southern Star heats and finals have been run on the same night since 2021 with great success, with Tornado Valley, Majestuoso, Just Believe and Callmethebreeze triumphing.

What an edition it was last year, with French import Callmethebreeze announcing his arrival as a big-time player in Australia with a stirring win over Just Believe.

With Just Believe now retired and Callmethebreeze sidelined with injury, this year’s running of the Great Southerns appears wide open.

There is no shortage of quality.

The NSW-based The Locomotive appears the one to beat as the winner off his past eight starts, including a clean sweep of the Inter Dominion series.

The Brad Hewitt-trained and driven 5yo has drawn the pole in the first heat, which also includes Arcee Phoenix and Oscar Bonavena, as well as Aldebaran Zeus, which campaigned in the US in 2023 and is a winner in NZ.

Keayang Chucky, from the stable of Marg and Paddy Lee, and Queen Elida clash in the second heat after finishing first and second in the VL Dullard Cup.

They face Australia Trotting Grand Prix winner, and Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star placegetter Mufasa Metro.

It all points to a great series and showcase for trotting in Australasia.