Feature series begins with full fields tonight

Warragul trots officials have been justified in revamping their feature Pacing Cup series this year.

After receiving no more than seven entries for a one-off race over the last couple of years, there are an unprecedented six qualifying divisions for this year's event with the last two to be staged at Cranbourne tonight (Tuesday 16th).

And they are among the biggest fields for the night, as a vote of confidence in the new race format which creates a point of difference among Victoria's feature race calendar.

Between the qualifying divisions, final and a consolation race, around $63,000 in stakes will be given away across the Warragul Pacing Cup series, as opposed to $35,000 for the stand-alone event last year.

The final, consolation and the Eddie Evison Memorial Trotters Cup will be held at Logan Park this Sunday afternoon from 12:15pm.

Tonight at Cranbourne, capacity fields will contest the final two Warragul Pacing Cup heats. Cranbourne trained pacers Benbullan, Shoobees Spirit and Tara Victory will be chasing a home town success in tonight's first division, while the other heat contains a similar mix of locals and visitors.

Earlier heats run at Cranbourne on April 7 and Ballarat last Thursday night were won by I'm Eugene (trained by Samantha Gangell, Cranbourne), Maxnjax (Philip Chircop, Bunding), Blue Cannon (Trevor Monk, Junortoun) and Keayang Tokyo (Margaret Lee, Ecklin South).

Meanwhile, local trots followers are eagerly awaiting the third race at Cranbourne tonight, at 6:30pm, when the highly rated local trotter Gatesys Gem makes its much-anticipated race debut.

Drawn barrier one in a small field of six, Gatesys Gem scored a brilliant barrier trial victory at Melton recently and has obvious ability. The youngster is trained and driven by Glenn Hunter at Trafalgar.