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!

The freakishly talented Courage Under Fire colt has recently returned to the Sunshine State after a 10 day spell in Victoria following his blitzing Tasmanian campaign.

Travelling down to the Apple Isle, the Darrel Graham-trained and driven three-year-old boasted a near perfect record but was yet to secure a coveted Group 1 victory.

A fortnight later Lanercost was a dual Group 1 winner having coasted to victory in both the $100,000 Tasmania Australian Derby and the $30,000 Group 1 Tasmanian Derby at Launceston and Hobart.

Lanercost’s sensational wins in Tasmanai bought his record to an impressive 15 wins from 18 starts

The sensational wins bought Lanercost’s record to an impressive 15 wins from 18 starts, and even more remarkable is that he has never finished out of the money running second twice and coming in third once.

Bred from boom sire Courage Under Fire out of American-bred New York Motoring, Lanercost now boasts an imposing $249,499 in total career prizemoney, which only looks to grow as the in-form pacer has more Group 1 glory and riches in his sites.

Back in Queensland and well-rested Lanercost’s next big assignment is the Queensland Derby before he heads back to Victoria in August where he will take on the best of the best in the Australasian Breeders Crown series.

Ten exciting three-year-old fillies are lining up in the 2010 Tasmanian Oaks including improving Courage Under Fire filly Maggie Kennedy drawn in the prized “pole”, consistent daughter of Modern Art Artistic Queen in barrier five and the speedy Bebop due to be ridden by Greg Sugars from the far-back-row barrier ten.

Sensational Queensland pacer Lanercost in the Tasmanian Derby will draw the crowds to Hobart’s twilight meet on Sunday

But it is the sensational Queensland pacer Lanercost in the Derby who will be drawing the crowds to Hobart’s twilight meet on Sunday. The Darrel Graham-trained and driven star has been seemingly unstoppable in his short career, boasting one of the most impressive and imposing winning strike rates of any three-year-old.

The son of Courage Under Fire has won 14 of his 17 starts, placing second twice and third once, never finishing out of the money to date.

In sensational form coming off his maiden Group 1 victory in the Tasmania Australian Derby last weekend, Lanercost is looking to come home to the Sunshine State a dual Group 1 winner and with just six rivals willing to face off against him on Sunday he looks well placed to do just that.

Lanercost has drawn roughly mid-field in barrier five and hopeful pacers he will face off against include Mapua Legend in the coveted barrier one, Bells And Whistles in barrier three and Gedlee in barrier seven.

But considering Lanercost defeated four of his six rivals in the Tasmanaia Australian Derby last start – Gedlee 2^nd, Mapua Legend 4^th, Ogrady 6^th, Bells And Whistles 7^th – there is little chance of an upset on Sunday.

The other feature at the meeting is the Listed $25, 000 Metropolitan Cup (Race 5 – 7:29pm) featuring the likes of Tanabi Bromac (Barrier 11), the Grant Campbell-trained and driven Shardons Rocket (Barrier 10) and the ever consistent Babyitsu (Barrier 6).

The SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Oaks is scheduled as race six at the meeting’s elite nine-race card starting at 7:58pm while the SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Derby will run as race eight at 8:53pm.

2010 SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Derby Final Field & Barriers:

2010 SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Oaks Final Field & Barriers:

The Darrel Graham-trained and driven Lanercost, a son of Courage Under Fire, began as the odds-on favourite at $1.90 and lived up to the expectations racing home to defeat surprise local runner-up Gedlee ($65.50) by four metres with the second-elect Renaissance Man ($2.40) in a fast finishing third just a neck away.

The Andy Gath-trained Renaissance Man enjoyed the inside barrier and began well, leading early on. But it was Lanercost and his brave run up the outside without cover who stole the show, securing the lead around the final turn and proving his amazing ability at only three years of age.

It was a gallant run by Gedlee who fought hard to move up to second after missing the start and settling last early on.

The talented Lanercost now has an even more impressive winning strike rate, having saluted in 14 of his 17 career starts, finishing second twice and third once in the others, for over $230, 000 in prizemoney. His Group 1 victory on Sunday has now greatly improved his value as a stallion.

The $30, 000 Group 1 SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Derby is next on the cards for Lanercost this weekend and it seems the unstoppable star has the skill to not only win races but scare off his competitors as only six other pacers are game enough to challenge him in the Derby.

Following the Tasmanian Derby Lanercost will be given a well-earned spell before going into training for the $100, 000 Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 10 in his home state.

2010 Tasmania Australian Derby Results

12 elite pacers will line-up in the 2698m mobile start event, with Art Major colt Renaissance Man coming out the winner in the barrier draw with the prized “pole” start.

Renaissance Man came out the winner in the barrier draw with the prized ‘pole’ start

The talented Andy Gath-trained Renaissance Man was named the Victorian two-year-old Horse of the Year last season and has is already a dual Group 1 winner.

But in his most recent attempts at a Group 1 hat-trick, Renaissance Man drew nightmare barriers.

Back in early February he finished an unlucky sixth in the Group 1 Alabar Victoria Derby after starting from barrier seven. Then in the Group 1 Australian Pacing Gold at Menangle last start, Gath’s worst nightmares came true when Renaissance Man drew the far outside barrier.

The talented colt did well though, running a gallant fourth place just five metres back from the winner Courage To Rule, and Gath feels his time has come this round having been blessed with the best barrier on Sunday.

The ideal barrier draw will allow Renaissance Man, due to be driven by Gath’s wife Kate, to gain an early lead that he will try to hold on to until the end.

Some of the other pre-race favourites did not fare so well and will have their work cut out for them on Sunday if they are to secure the coveted Group 1 victory.

The in-form Christian Slater trained and driven Ogrady will start from barrier eight as the local gelding aims for his fourth successive victory. Village Of Dreams won from this barrier last year, so all hope is not lost for the local.

Another hot contender drawn poorly for Sunday is the classy Queensland pacer Lanercost. Trained by Darrel Graham, who will be driving in the Derby, the Courage Under Fire colt has had a dazzling career to date and despite drawing barrier 10, presents one of the biggest threats to Renaissance Man.

Lanercost has finished in the money in all of his 16 career starts with 13 wins, two seconds and a third for one of the most impressive strike rates seen by a three-year-old.

The less than ideal barrier draw presents Lanercost with one of his toughest tests to date, but he has the speed and ability to chase down the leader and maybe even come away with the win.

Lanercost is one of only two New Zealand bred pacers starting in the Tasmanian Australian Derby this year, the other is In The Pocket colt Mapua Legend who will start from barrier four.

Other last start winners starting in the star-studded back row along with Lanercost include Maybe Doc (9) and another pacer from boom sire Courage Under Fire, Bells And Whistles (12).

You can catch the great three-year-old pacers in action in the 2010 Country Club Tasmania Australian Derby as race seven at 8:23pm on Sunday’s great nine-event card.

Other highlights of the night will be the Invitation Drivers Pace (Race 4 – 7:01pm) and the $10, 000 Golden Slipper for two-year-olds (Race 6 – 7:50pm).

2010 Tasmania Australian Derby Final Field & Barriers

This year nine top three-year-olds are engaged in the 2240m mobile start feature, including the talented Ole Master Lombo, Lanercost and Major Bronski.

Ole Master Lombo has drawn ideally in barrier three and is coming off a last start win that bought the lightly raced Modern Art gelding’s career record to a solid three victories from five starts.

In barrier six is the Darrel Graham trained and driven Queensland pacing star Lanercost. Lanercost is coming off a last start third to Courage To Rule in the Group 1 Alabar Victoria Derby, the ever improving and classy Courage Under Fire colt has won 11 of their 14 race starts boasting a smart best winning mile rate of 1:56.3, which they will be hoping to run again on Saturday night.

One of Lanercost’s biggest threats in the Caduceus Club Cup will come from the pacer starting beside him in barrier seven, the brilliant Major Bronski. Major Bronski placed fourth just one behind Lanercost in the Victoria Derby last start after starting as the odds-on favourite. Trained by Stuart Hunter, the three-year-old son of Art Major will be looking to return to the sensational winning form that saw him win nine consecutive victories in the lead up to the Victoria Derby.

Major Bronski will be ridden by Chris Alford in the Caduceus Cup and is likely to start as the odds-on favourite.

The Caduceus Club Cup will run as race six at 9:10pm on the night’s cracker nine-event card that also includes the $20, 000 ANZ Stampede (race five – 8:40pm) and the $20, 000 VHRSC Metropolitan Cup Final (race seven – 9:40pm).

2010 Caduceus Club Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Three-year-old Courage To Rule ($11) defeated Lincoln Royal ($5.20) by 1.5m with star Queensland-trained pacer Lanercost ($10.20) a further 1.2m back in third.

Courage To Rule’s sire Courage Under Fire also won a Victoria Derby back in 1999.

Eventual runner-up, Lincoln Royal led going into the second quarter after running a mild paced first quarter of 31.0s.

The second quarter was run in 31.7s, just after which Lincoln Royal started to really pick up the pace leading by 4m ahead of the odds-on favourite Major Bronski ($4.10).

By this stage in the third quarter, Courage To Rule was still only sitting in fourth position behind Lanercost.

Major Bronski shortened the gap between him and Lincoln Royal to only 2m as the hectic 27.7s third quarter played out.

Lanercost then moved into the sprint lane while Courage To Rule made his move on the outside putting in a sensational chase over the final metres.

It was the three Kiwis fighting it out over the closing stages, Lanercost on the inside beside Lincoln Royal with Courage To Rule on the end.

But it was Courage To Rule who crossed the line first for his fifth win from 21 career starts, having now won over $287 000 in prizemoney.

In the end Major Bronski, who threatened the lead nearly all the way, lost pace and could only manage to finish fourth putting an end to his incredible nine-race winning streak.

The winner’s driver Greg Bennett was fined along with Lincoln Royal’s reinsman Maurice McKendry while Lanercost’s trainer-driver Darrel Graham was cautioned for his lack of control.

Meanwhile, the final ever harness race held at the Moonee Pond circuit was the $20 000 BIG6 Country Clubs Championship Final (2100m) won by Strident. The win gave prolific driver Gavin Lang his 1029^th win at the Moonee Valley track, the most of any reinsman.

2010 Alabar Victoria Derby Results:

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: