AUSTRALIAN harness racing’s newest millionaire, Caribbean Blaster, will have his next start in the Ballarat Pacing Cup.
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His trainer, Andy Gath, has confirmed Caribbean Blaster will line up in the group 1 $175,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m, on Saturday, January 25, and then go to the AG Hunter Cup.
Curiously, this will be the six-year-old’s first appearance at Bray Raceway.
He did win at a Ballarat and District Trotting Club meeting, but that was a lowly restricted-class event at Melton in April, 2012. Caribbean Blaster took his earnings past $1 million with a stirring win in the $125,000 South Australian Cup on Saturday night.
For the second year in a row, he engaged in an epic battle with old warhorse Smoken Up.
While Smoken Up triumphed last year, this time it was Caribbean Blaster which came out on top – by just a head.
The duo is a big chance of resuming the rivalry in the Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Smoken Up, which is nominated for the group 1 $50,000 Shepparton Gold Cup on Saturday night, is racing at the top of his game, despite his age.
Since setting a track record in the Laser Electrical Lightning Mile in Ballarat on Boxing Day, the 11-year-old has finished second in the Horsham and SA Cups.
The Ballarat Pacing Cup field will be announced at a breakfast at Bray Raceway on Tuesday, December 21.
The barrier draw will also take place at the function, which will again be part of an outside broadcast by Radio Sport National hosted by Adam White and Mick McGuane.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au