Lochinvar Art is the stand-out performer in the field for the 50th anniversary edition of the group 1 event.

Rising stars Wolf Stride and Hurricane Harley loom as his main challengers, although Lochinvar Art is considered head and shoulders above any of his rivals.

Trained and driven by David Moran at Shepparton, Lochinvar Art looks to be on a journey to greatness and winning the Ballarat Pacing Cup - a race won by an array of Australian harness racing legends - would edge him closer to achieving this.

Lochinvar Art became the latest to join the sport's millionaire club in a dominant Shepparton Cup victory on Saturday - equalling the track record in toying with his rivals and scoring by 15m. Moran summed up the victory with "it's pretty scary really".

Already with the Victoria Cup under his belt, Lochinvar Art is using Ballarat - the opening night of Harness Racing Victoria's Summer of Glory Carnival - as the stepping stone to the group 1 $500,000 AG Hunter Cup on Saturday, February 6.

Wolf Stride is coming off a last-start win in the Bendigo Pacing Cup earlier this month, when he delivered on the potential he has been promising.

Wolf Stride gives co-trainer Anthony Butt, who prepares the five-year-old with Sonia Smith, a chance to drive a fourth Ballarat Cup winner.

Hurricane Harley, one of four acceptors from the Cardigan stable of Emma Stewart, has drawn to lead with his blistering speed.and has the distinction of being the last horse to beat Lochinvar Art.

Stewart's other starters at Somewhere Secret, Always Fast and Fourbigmen, with partner Clayton Tonkin having Out To Play.