The 2024 Aurora Australis shines an international spotlight on Victorian trotting. Commencing in January, this eight-race series encompasses the feature trotting races that headline the start of a new racing year.

The Aurora Australis commences with the $75,000 Maori Mile at Bendigo on Saturday 6 January, where the fastest trotting stars compete for glory on one of the quickest tracks in Victoria.

The series then heads to Ballarat on Pacing Cup Night for the time-honoured $50,000 The Knight Pistol on Saturday night 20 January.

Victoria’s metropolitan track Melton, plays host to the next legs of the $655,000 Aurora Australis series of races – with the $50,000 V L Dullard Trotters Cup on Saturday night 27 January and the $360,000 Great Southern Star series (two $30,000 Heats into a $300,000 Final) on Saturday night 3 February.

A new race has been added to the 2024 Aurora Australis, the Bruce Skeggs Cranbourne Trotters Cup, a $50,000 Group 1 race over 2555m at Cranbourne.

The final leg is the Group 1 $75,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix on Saturday night 24 February at Melton.

The culmination of this prestigious eight race series will see a $20,000 bonus payable to the Owner of the horse which accrues the highest number of points throughout each race of the Aurora Australis: 1st - 8 points, 2nd - 5 points, 3rd - 3 points, 4th - 2 points and 5th - 1 point.

An attractive target to Australasia’s best trotters, the Aurora Australis will attract international participation from the key global trotting markets in the years to come.

 

 

Day Date Month Race Track Distance Current Prizemoney
Saturday 6th January Maori Mile (Group 1) Bendigo 1609m $75,000
Saturday 20th January The Knight Pistol (Group 2) Ballarat 2200m $50,000
Saturday 27th January V L Dullard Trotters Cup (Group 2) Melton 2240m $50,000
Saturday 3rd February Great Southern Star Heats (2 Heats) Melton 1720m $30,000
Saturday 3rd February Great Southern Star Final (Group 1) Melton 1720m $300,000
Saturday 10th February Bruce Skeggs Cranbourne Trotters Cup (Group 1) Cranbourne 2555m $50,000
Saturday 24th February Australian Trotting Grand Prix (Group 1) Melton 2240m $75,000

Grand Total: $630,000