Oh, what a night…

OH, what a night,
Late in April 20-23,
What an APG extravaganza it will be,
At Club Menangle on Saturday night…

OKAY, our Four Seasons tribute aside, the program is truly an extravaganza in the making thanks to its status as one of the most lucrative meetings of the season.

Seven Australian Pacing Gold Finals are set to be decided for a combined prizemoney pool of $1,225,000, headed by a pair of $400,000 events for two-year-olds.

On top of the base stake, the eligible two-year-old winners can collect an eye-popping $250,000 bonus!

To claim the cash the fillies’ champion needs to score in 1:52.1 or better, while the ‘boys’ winner is required to lower the 1:51.3 standard.

Elsewhere on the card, APG’s three and four-year-old Finals have gathered strong fields, including Group One winning mare Madrid and her highly-talented stablemate, My Ultimate Ronnie.

Although luckless in the APG series during their debut seasons, My Ultimate Ronnie and Madrid are no strangers to pocketing APG riches having captured Gold Sovereign Finals last season.

Thanks to their heat victories last Monday, My Ultimate Ronnie and Madrid are the short-priced favourites for the four-year-old deciders.

Winner of his last three starts, including the Riverina Championship, My Ultimate Ronnie is a $1.40 hot shot with TAB Fixed Odds after drawing the pole.

At $3 Lightning Dan is the only rival under double figures from barrier two.

Despite being the widest runner in the mares’ division, Madrid is $1.04 with TAB Fixed Odds.

Smooth Bon Bon is considered the biggest threat at $11.

Trainer Jarrod Alchin is positive the duo can live up to their short quotes.

“Madrid is facing the same field as she did last week and only has to go like she did to win again,” Alchin said. “One of her biggest assets is her gate speed, so I expect her to be in front the whole time.

“Ronnie has come through his heat in great condition and will be hard to beat from the pole.

“I’m tipping the race will be similar to heat with Ronnie leading and Lightning Dan on his back, so hopefully we get the job done again.”