The Group Two Shepparton Gold Cup (2690m).
The crown jewel race in the region and one of the most sought after country cups in Victoria.
Ask any country trainer which race they eye off winning and nine times out of 10 their response would be to claim their local cup.
Which is exactly what Shepparton’s Steven Duffy will aim to do on Saturday night.
Duffy, who has been in the harness game since his teenage years, will gear up Serg Blanco (NZ) in the $75,000 race.
Although a Shepparton Gold Cup win may pale in comparison to Duffy’s extraordinary triumph in 2021 — when his pacer Boncel Benjamin claimed the prestigious Inter Dominion — the experienced trots trainer would rank a win on Saturday night right up there with the rest.
Duffy’s son Ryan will take up driving responsibilities for Serg Blanco as the Duffy duo aims to pull off a memorable win.
“I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be great having all of my family there for support,” Duffy said.
“It’s good to have a horse that is capable and even better to have someone drive who knows the horse well.
“Ryan has drove him for his past half-a-dozen starts now and I’ll be leaving it (race strategy) up to him.”
Serg Blanco faces a steep rise in class for his upcoming assignment.
The talented five-year-old gelding is up against last year’s Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow, who is odds-on favourite, Sicario, Majestic Cruiser and Cranbourne to name a few.
“We’re not going in expecting to win, there’s some very talented horses in the race such as I Cast No Shadow, Majestic Cruiser and Cranbourne,” Duffy said.
“He’s definitely up in class and I think we’ll see the benefit of racing against this quality field in about six months’ time. We’ve drawn wide which makes it tricky ... but you’ve gotta be in it to win it, so we’ll give it our best shot.”
Despite most corporate bookies ranking Serg Blanco a 40-1 pop in the gold cup, the Concorde Park-based trotter enters with some standout form behind him.
From his past four starts Serg Blanco has finished first, second, third and second — which came in Sunday’s Cobram Pacing Cup (2678m).
“I was really happy with that race effort,” Duffy said.
“The leaders set a slow tempo and just sat out in front and made it a sprint home which wasn’t suited to him, but he still hit the line hard.
“He’s pulled up really well and he’s looking fit.”
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