Ballarat feature gateway to $500,000 major

A GOLDEN ticket for the $500,000 Protostar, the richest two-year-old race on the Australasian calendar, to be run at Albion Park on July 12, awaits the winner of the $20,000 Durham Park Two-Year-Old Rising Star at Ballarat on June 12.

Bruce and Vicki Edward’s Durham Park, in partnership with the Ballarat and District Trotting Club, has secured a slot in the Protostar.

The winner of the $20,000 race at Ballarat, to be conducted over 1680 metres, will be offered the slot and automatic entry into The Protostar.

Along with the automatic entry, the owner of the successful pacer will receive $10,000 to cover travel costs to Brisbane for the race.

The Ballarat feature represents a wonderful opportunity for trainers-owners with progressive two-year-olds.

Prizemoney for the Protostar is distributed across all starters, with first receiving $250,000, second $100,000 and third $50,000 with all runners receiving a minimum $10,000.

• PETER WHARTON, HRV Media