From the Callers Box – January 2026

We’re fresh into a New Year. What will 2026 bring? But, before looking forward, let’s take a moment to reflect on the recently staged new-look Starlight’s Carnival.

Naturally, the revamped and much beefier summer carnival was stronger given the time shift for the Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship/Sunshine Sprint features coupled with The Great Square.

The latter event, a Gr.1 race for trotters, is still in its infancy, the 2025 version was just the third edition of the feature following the success of London To A Brick and Rockinwithattitude during the winter timeslot.

The 2025 edition was staged for the first time during the summer.

Did it work? Was this the correct timeslot for this sought after feature?

The 2025 version was taken out by Keayang Zahara, arguably the biggest name amongst trotters throughout the southern hemisphere right now, and a great result for the Roll of Honour in time to come.

The latest edition featured trotters from the east coast of Australia with Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria represented. But is it the right timeslot? Or moving it back to the winter as a precursor for the Inter Dominion be its rightful place on the calendar? By staging it in June/July, can we lure the precocious talents from New Zealand?

As we know, it’s far more likely getting the Kiwi’s to be here during our winter rather than summer.

Staging it during the winter has far more benefits compared to that current timeslot.

We need the trans-Tasman rivalry!

And increasing the profile of this race deserves the switch, this event has fitted in seamlessly to the feature race calendar and will continue to grow/evolve immeasurably if staged during the winter period. And after canvassing many participants via radio, most agreed the timing doesn’t quite fit during the summer.

Look, we experimented and we crowned a great champion but, the event can and deserves to be better moving forward.

Our Constellations winter carnival takes pride of place, and rightly so, lets keep building it up rather than diluting it.

The Gr.1 Haras Des Trotteurs The Great Square is fast becoming a target race, enticing New Zealand participation is natural and obvious progression.

Let’s see what happens.

Bring on 2026.

Until next time.