Highlights in the world of harness racing during June included the $100,000 Group 1 Diamond Classic on Friday June 11, where the nation’s most impressive juvenile fillies fought it out at Gloucester Park.

It was a surprise result as Chill Factor filly Cool Adda ($14.80) took out the race 4.4m ahead of Miss Baypoint ($14.30) and Prix De Whitby ($24.90). Many clever punters cleaned up at SportsBet backing the longer-priced runners and proving that with the two-year-old races track experience goes a long way in deciding who will win.

Another big feature was the two-year-old colts and geldings equivalent to the Diamond Classic, when the $100,000 Group 1 Pearl Classic took place at Gloucester Park on Saturday June 18. The 2010 Pearl Classic saw the pronounced favourite Go West U Terror ($1.10) secure an uncontested victory, thrashing the competition by over 30 metres, one of the largest winning margins in history. The lesson punters learned was that when a young horse has had such an imposing record and is driven by one of the greats, Gary Hall Jnr, it is best to stick with the favourite with the bookies like SportsBet.

This month pacing fans have plenty more great races to try their luck on. The first huge night of racing has already taken place, when the four $100,000 Group 1 finals of the WA Sires took place at Gloucester Park.

If you missed out on these, don’t panic. There are still top class pacing events coming up soon and because it takes just five minutes to open a SportsBet account, you can be making money sooner than you think!

This Friday night two $100,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series finals will be decided at Tabcorp Park in Victoria, with plenty of quality two-year-olds to bet on including sensational filly Aussie Made Lombo who looks the pick in the fillies final.

Gold Coast Derby Winner For A Reason should win the Queensland Derby after dual Group 1 winner Lanercost was scratched

Other headline pacing races not to miss this month include the $100,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park where Gold Coast Derby winner For A Reason is the horse to beat following the sensational scratching of the dual Group 1 winning Lanercost ; the $125,000 Group 1 Golden Slipper for two-year-olds at Gloucester Park where you could be betting on Australia’s future pacing superstars; the $100,000 Winter Cup at Albion Park where SportsBet has the odds that will warm up your winter; and the highly anticipated $200,000 Group 1 Chariots of Fire for four-year-olds at Harold Park where there is not only plenty of prizemoney on offer for the contenders, but thousands to be won through SportsBet too!

Stay up to date with the latest harness racing fixtures with the Australian Harness Racing Calendar, and remember, if you place a punt at the TAB you are getting ripped off! Online betting is the way to go now, and SportsBet makes it easy to sign up, select your favourites and then enjoy the great payouts!

In-form pacer For A Reason, trained and driven by Luke McCarthy, has drawn ideally with barrier two. The brilliant Art Major Colt has displayed first class style of late, winning his past four from five starts but placing second in the heats last week.

For A Reason is one of three top colts representing Queensland in the prestigious Victorian event on Saturday night after blitzing the heats, alongside Lanercost and Major Bronski.

The classy Queensland pacer Lanercost, who took out heat one at Maryborough in sensational style, had all the luck in the barrier draw for last week and has been allocated the second row barrier 9 for the final. The colt is aiming for their fourth successive victory and will be driven by trainer Darrel Graham, who has expressed how pleased the draw.

Barrier nine will allow Lanercost, a son of Courage Under Fire, to sit behind the likely pacesetter For A Reason and hopefully find a forward position early on.

Also drawing wide for the final is the ever consistent and impressive Stuart Hunter-trained Major Bronski with barrier 11. Another three-year-old from super sire Art Major, Major Bronski took out heat 2 last Friday night ahead of For A Reason, giving him his ninth consecutive victory.

The third heat winner to qualify for the final was Lincoln Royal who claimed an emphatic victory ahead of Chariot King by 7.5m.

Lincoln Royal has drawn barrier eight this Saturday and will have Maurice McKendry in the sulky while Chariot King has drawn far better in barrier three.

The Alabar Victoria Derby falls as the sixth race at the meeting and is due to jump at 8:32pm (VIC time).

2010 Alabar Victoria Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw: