One of the world's richest standing start races, the $425,000 A.G. Hunter Cup, highlights another superb night of harness racing at Melton's Tabcorp Park on Saturday night. And one thing's for sure, Highview Tommy won't be starting at $100 after having won the Ballarat Cup at those odds last weekend.

However, he is still regarded as trainer Mark Purdon's second stringer to Auckland Reactor, the race favourite.

Purdon wasn't surprised Auckland Reactor was handicapped on 10-metres in the Hunter Cup. In fact, he is not overly concerned. Purdon predicts a much fitter Auckland Reactor this week, saying the tough run to win first-up in the Pure Steel at Ballarat last week has really brought him on. With the Inter Dominion Championships just around the corner, Purdon rates Auckland Reactor 95 per cent for the Hunter Cup.

One of the great stories of this Hunter Cup is the return to driving in the race for Natalie Rasmussen, who became the Queen of Harness Racing through the deeds of her former champion pacer Blacks A Fake. Rasmussen will drive Highview Tommy, who will also come from a 10m handicap.

Purdon says the key to his chances is the pace of the race. If the Hunter Cup is run as a genuine staying contest like the Ballarat Cup, then he expects Highview Tommy to be steaming home.

Champion driver, Gavin Lang, has three excellent chances in the features at Melton.

His best hope appears to be Restrepo in the Alabar Victoria Derby final. Last week, off a front-row draw, Lang was able to lead and dictate in front but Restrepo will start from the back row in the final. Lang says the exciting three-year-old is capable of reeling off strong sectionals and it doesn't really matter where he draws. The top two fancies in the Derby have, interestingly, been drawn alongside each other. To Restrepo's inside will be Kiwi visitor, Ideal Scott, who was impressive leading throughout from a front row draw last week.

Lang also drives standing start specialist Our Malabar in the Hunter Cup. Lang says punters should forget Our Malabar's Ballarat Cup run after having failed to secure clear run back on the inside. Barrier one in the Hunter Cup should provide a far better outcome.

Completing the chances for Lang is Save a Sixpence in the Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final. Gavin's father, Graeme, trains the horse which is racing consistently.

Over the past two months, Jaccka Clive has been a pacer that has shot to prominence under the guidance of trainer David Aiken. Jaccka Clive was offered for sale though Harness Racing Victoria's Master Claiming Series for $50,000 but with no firm bids, Aiken decided to test the waters in feature races. Success came in the Cobram Cup before he produced a career best performance in the Shepparton Cup. Since the horse was up for sale, he's collected more than $50,000 in prize money but victory in the Hunter Cup would be a racing fairytale. Greg Sugars had a few offers on the table but the leading driver has stuck thick with Jaccka Clive.

Now to thoroughbred racing on Saturday and personally I can't wait to see the promising, Bel Sprinter return at Caulfield. Trainer Jason Warren has been thrilled with the horse's preparation which included a strong gallop at Sandown a week ago where he produced an impressive last 200m. Warren is planning to put Bel Sprinter into Group One races early in the Melbourne Festival of Racing. After Saturday, Bel Sprinter may tackle either the Lightning Stakes or Oakleigh Plate.

We spoke earlier about racing's fairytales and another one may continue tomorrow. Appropriately-named because of a $3,000 purchase-price, Didntcostalot lines up at Warwick Farm on Saturday attempting to make it four wins from as many starts. Trainer Marc Conners says the horse has improved each time and his work on Tuesday was spot on.

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