May as well get the trophy ready!

KNOWN as a forward thinking club, Strathalbyn's committee may as well be proactive and engrave the winning trainer's name on Saturday night's Trotters' Cup.

Sure the field hasn't been released yet, let alone the race been run, but it's odds-on Ryan Hryhorec will be holding the trophy aloft.

Hryhorec has dominated the provincial events like no other in recent years, including becoming the first trainer in the nation to complete a clean sweep of a state's squaregaiting Cups in 2022.

A regular on the dais in 2023, Hryhorec then won four Cups in 2024, including the Fred Jones Cup, which he captured again at Globe Derby on February 15.

Since then, Hryhorec has secured the Kadina, Gawler Hambletonian and yesterday's Kapunda Trotters' Cups.

"I've been fortunate to have had a bit of success in the Cups in recent years," Hryhorec said. "It helps when you've got the stock.

"The Strathalbyn Cup is certainly a high priority this weekend."

Regal Attire has been Hryhorec's star performer, but in his absence, Rakero Blaze emerged triumphant in Kapunda.

With Hryhorec in the cart, Rakero Blaze overcame a 10-metre handicap to score by a metre-and-a-half from Flingandwingit.

Phoebe Onyx, a stablemate of the winner, was a head away third.

"She began well, but put in a rough one soon after which cost her a bit of ground," Hryhorec said. "Thankfully she got into her stride quickly and was able to catch the field without much fuss.

"She was still last of the group going into the back straight, but when I set her alight she grabbed the bit and gave it everything.

"I was very happy with the way she hit the line."