He opted for Guaranteed ahead of stablemate Philadelphia Man.

Lang is aiming for his third win in the Cup and to become the only reinsman to land back-to-back Ballarat Cup winners since Vin Knight on Bag Limit in 1988 and Sir Reilly in 1989.

Lang saluted on Robin Hood for Peter Tonkin in 2006 and on Restrepo for Emma Stewart last year.

Lang is the number one driver for the Ballarat stable of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, which has four runners in the group 1 event.

He is the regular driver for all four, which also feature Restrepo and Beauty Secret.

It will be the first time in Restrepo’s career, which features 17 wins in 41 starts, that he has not been driven by Lang.

Greg Sugars takes the drive on the reigning champion.

It will be the 20th race in a row Lang has been in charge of Guaranteed.

The combination has had 12 wins, including the Vicbred Super Series 3yo final and Chariots of Fire.

Lang indicated on Tuesday Guaranteed was his likely drive, but delayed making what he not surprisingly described as a “hard decision” until Wednesday.

He said while he did not enjoy breaking partnerships with horses, there had been no choice.

Lang has no doubt Guaranteed will be hard to beat from gate four – one outside Philadelphia Man.

Nathan Jack now appears set to drive Philadelphia Man despite previously being down to steer Wartime Sweetheart in the Cup.

New Zealander Anthony Butt, who is now based in Victoria, has also been engaged to drive rank outsider Artoc.

Like Lang, Butt has driven two Ballarat Pacing Cup winners – Stunin Cullen in 2011 and Mah Sish in 2013.

In a Harness Racing Victoria innovation as part of the shift of the Ballarat Cup from late January to mid-December, the winner will be exempt from the ballot for the $400,000 Victoria Cup at Melton on January 31.

Guaranteed is also on the second line of beting for next year’s Inter-Dominion Pacing Championship in Sydney.

He is rated a $5.50 chance with Miracle Mile winner Christen Me behind Beautide ($4.20) in TAB.com.au all-in betting.

Guaranteed’s stable-

mates Restrepo ($11) and Philadelphia Man ($12) are also highly ranked.

Emma Stewart’s other Ballarat Pacing Cup runner Beauty Secret is also nominated among 37 Victoria entries for the series.

Daylesford trainer Mick Barby has also nominated It Is Billy, while Ross Creek’s Paul Rowse has put Savesomtimetodream in the mix.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au

BALLARAT PACING CUP

2170 metres

1-464 RESTREPO Greg Sugars 

2-092 ARTOC Anthony Butt

3-111 PHILADELPHIA MAN Nathan Jack

4-123 GUARANTEED Gavin Lang 

5-259 WARTIME SWEETHEART Nathan Jack 

6-163 COLD MAJOR Joshua Aiken (c) 

7-216 IM CORZIN TERROR Chris Alford 

Second row 

8-414 UNCLE WINGNUT Michael Bellman 

9-441 TERROR TO LOVE Ricky May 

10-411 BEAUTY SECRET David Moran 

MARKET: 

(TAB.com.au fixed odds): 2.20 Guaranteed, 3.00 Terror To Love, 3.60 Philadelphia Man, 8.00 Restrepo, 31.00 Im Corzin Terror, 51.0 Cold Major, 61.00 Beauty Secret, 61.0 Uncle Wingnut, 151.00 Wartime Sweetheart, 301.0 Artoc