Night two preview

With night one now in the rearview mirror, some stars faded and some burst on to the landscape with dazzling displays, we now prepare for night two of the Constellations Carnival where dreams will be made or lost.

An outstanding support card compliments five Inter Dominion heats, with The Protostar, Kevin Thomas 4YO, the Fleur De Lil and J C McMullen all full of class performers.

PACERS ID HEATS

Sure Thing Captain opens deep into the red for the fourth heat and he will run from the same barrier as last week when scoring an emphatic victory in the opening heat of the Series.

The Shannon Price trained five-year-old dictated in front and the map looks to favour the gelding repeating that patter again this week.

Like many in the field, Sure Thing Captain has limited exposure at the distance, his only attempt at the 2680 metre trip came in the 2023 Derby.

Veteran pacer Max Delight will need to be at his best to qualify for the Final after coming up with barrier 12, while Wisper A Secret will also need to score big points to progress after landing gate 11.

Heat five will see the most anticipated clash of the Series arrive prior to the Final as Don Hugo and Leap To Fame do battle.

The barrier draw set the race up for an intriguing contest with Don Hugo to run from gate one and Leap To Fame again drawing gate eight.

Outside of the big two, Catch A Wave was the most impressive performer from night one and the Andy Gath trained gelding can progress through to the Final if able to replicate last week’s performance.

The last heat of the Series will give several horses an opportunity to earn big points and potentially squeeze into the $1m Final.

Captains Knock will need to overcome gate seven if he is to make successive ID Finals, while Speak The Truth gains the barrier advantage to redeem a flat run in the first round.

TROTTERS ID HEATS

Heat three looks the stronger of this week’s heats, with the Kiwi trained Bet N Win securing the barrier advantage over his rivals and look to progress as a double heat winner.

Not As Promised will need to be at his best to overcome a second line gate while other heat winner, Golden Sunset, has drawn wide in gate six, but does boast good speed off the arm and should be able to work forward to find position.

London To A Brick is in danger of missing the Final and from gate seven, James Rattray will need to produce some magic with the two-time Albion Park G1 winner.

The fourth heat features first round failure Oscar Bonavena which has drawn in gate one, with potential Series favourite, Arcee Phoenix drawn to follow him at the start.

The start will be all important for Oscar Bonavena, a trotter that has previously had some troubles with the mobile start, particularly when starting from the inside gate.

Parisian Artiste and Constantinople both produced eye-catching runs last week and will start beside each other from gates four and five respectively.

STARS ON THE HORIZON

In just the second year, The Protostar has again drawn together an imposing field looks set to once again be THE two-year-old race of the year in Australia.

After winning the first edition of the race last year, Grant Dixon is in a strong position to repeat the 2025 success, preparing both Fire And Passion and Fight For Victory.

Emma Stewart returns for another tilt at the rich feature, has three runners all with differing fortunes as card and Dan will start from gate one Lusso from seven and dynamite Band from 10 stop.

The Dixon stable will be represented by last week’s Wayne Wilson Paleface Adios Memorial Classic winner Fire And Passion which will start from barrier two and the last start QBRED Breeders Classic winner Fight For Victory which draws inside the second line.

Race sponsors Ladbrokes will be represented by the Brad Hewitt trained and driven Rewatch with gate five making his task tougher after his past two starts have been inconclusive.

Emma Stewart has strong representation in the race, producing three of the 10 runners which have all arrived via air from their Victorian base during the week and each appear to be well credentialed.

Cardigan Dan holds the slot for the Ballarat/Durham Park syndicate following his victory in the Rising Star race and has drawn ideally in gate one with Kate Garth booked for the drive.

Loucasso takes the Tonkin/Stewart slot but will need to be at his best to overcome the outside front line, after finishing second to Cardigan Dan in the Ballarat feature.

Dynamitedan takes his place in the field for the Warren Viney slot, the last start Menangle winner will jump from barrier 10, with Cam Hart booked to take the reins, with Luke McCarthy committed to Soho Park Avenue.