Not only is the nominal Decron Cranbourne Cup favourite Decorated Jasper engaged, but he meets last year's runner-up Manwarra Goforgold, class act Mister Swinger, sit-sprint star Cincinnati Kid and the consistent Albert Terrill.

Decorated Jasper's driver Jodi Quinlan said the race was the ideal way for the Paul Rowse-trained star to tune up for next week's feature.

"Paul picked the Cranbourne Cup out for him a while ago," the Bacchus Marsh reinswoman said.

"He wasn't keen on going to Sydney for the (Miracle Mile) lead-ups, he was happy to stay at home and target the Cranbourne Cup, and at this stage he appears on track. This is a good race for him."

Although the six-year-old son of Village Jasper has barrier 10 to contend with in tomorrow night's 2100m mobile event, Quinlan isn't overly concerned about that with the versatile gelding.

She points to his last start, when a gallant second behind boom gelding Melpark Major in the Group 2 Legends Mile, as evidence that he is the horse to beat at the Valley.

"He's probably down a bit in class on what he's been racing against, there's no Melpark major this week, and his run against him last time was superb," she said.

"He did all the work that night and it still took Melpark Major all of the straight to run him down. There were a lot of others that had better runs than him but still couldn't beat him home."

TAB Sportsbet agrees with Quinlan, posting Decorated Jasper a $2.10 favourite for the MHRC Classic. Cincinnati Kid occupies the second line at $6 ahead of Albert Terrill and Manwarra Goforgold at $7.50.

Mister Swinger ($8.50), That's Mister Ali ($9) and Mystical Warrior ($10) are the other runners under $23 for the event to be run at 9.30pm.

Carroll Keen To Catch Cup With Yu

Sunday's $8000 St Arnaud Sporting Club Pacing Cup underlines just how far Yucatchim has come in the past 12 months.

A year after running second in the C4-C5 pacers event as a $20 chance on St Arnaud Cup Day, the Bill Carroll-trained six-year-old will start one of the favourites for the main event, to be run at Charlton, after establishing himself as one of Victorian harness racing's most improved performers.

Since last year's St Arnaud Cup, Yucatchim has raced 25 times for 12 wins. Among his victories were an M0 win at Moonee Valley during the Inter Dominion and a couple of handicap wins at headquarters.

Manangatang-based Carroll said his stable star had improved beyond his wildest dreams in the past 12 months and that St Arnaud Cup victory in front of family and friends would be a marvellous way to cap it off.

"He has had a fantastic last 12 months. I've got a few aunties and uncles in St Arnaud - a couple of the Patchings and the Carrolls - so it would be good if we can their hometown cup," he said.

The son of Kinney Hanover, to be driven by Nathan Jack, forms part a strong 10-metre line in one of the most impressive St Arnaud Cup fields in years.

Starting alongside him in the 2570-metre event to be run at 7.34pm will be Doolan Jack, Robric Jonboy, Ally Luvzit and Count De Lira.

Joint backmarkers off 20m are class five-year-old Cosmic Under Fire and the talented Walton Shaw. Off the front are Lenny, Few Good Men, The Big Shot, Just Stay N Alive and Tricky Interest, while Karloo Toogie is the emergency.

Standing Yucatchim in good stead is that he has already contested two of this season's standing start country cups. After a third placing behind Mister Swinger at Nyah, he finished midfield two starts ago at Maryborough.

He returned to the winner's list with an effortless 13-metre win in 2:00.5 at Mildura on November 12, the ideal St Arnaud Cup tune-up according to Carroll.

"It was good to see him win like that," he said. "He's really well and I'm really happy with him.

"He generally goes away pretty well from the stand, he got out really well at Maryborough, so hopefully he can go away with them and settle in a good spot."

The Cup is just one highlight of a fine eight-race program. The feature support event is the $8000 Weir's Supa IGA St Arnaud Trotters Cup, which will see Beleva strive to become the first multiple winner of the race since its inception in 2000.

Vic Ladies Chase Mile Glory

Star mares Deanna Troy and Pacific Charm have the job of upholding Victorian honour when Harold Park hosts one of its biggest meetings of the year tonight.

The talented pair are the only Garden Staters engaged in the first of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club's two Group 1 invitational events, the Ladyship Mile.

The $100,000 event is one of just two mares-only Group 1 free-for-alls on the Australian calendar and thus it always attracts the best female pacers from across the country.

Among their rivals tonight are star four-year-old Fleur De Lil, a $1.55 favourite in TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market after coming up with barrier three. Last season's Ladyship Mile runner-up is part of a two-horse Queensland assault alongside Thats The Spirit ($34, barrier seven).

The John Tapp-trained Misty Miller ($7.50, six) heads a strong local contingent that also includes Flamin Yomax ($10, one), 2006 Ladyship Mile winner Lucky Elsie ($11, nine) and Blacks A Fake's little sister Dymondee ($41, five).

The Victorians weren't offered any favours at the barrier draw with Pacific Charm ($26) handed the outside draw in the eight-horse race. Deanna Troy ($4.75) didn't fare much better, drawing gate eight, which will become six if neither of the emergencies gain a start.

The pair both bring good form to the contest, though, having run the quinella in The Blossom Lady at Moonee Valley earlier this month.

The Ladyship Mile is race five on tonight's Harold Park card and will be run at 9pm.

There will no shortage of interest in the 1760-metre scamper with the winner a chance of stitching up one of the two remaining places available in Australia's premier sprint race, the $500,000 Miracle Mile, to be run at the same venue seven days later.

Tonight's other race that could have an influence on the make up of the Miracle Mile field is the Cordina Chicken Sprint.

Defending Victoria Cup champion Robin Hood will fly the Victorian flag in the $40,500 event, but he could have the job ahead in an event containing three-time Inter Dominion champion Blacks A Fake.

The Peter Tonkin-trained Robin Hood is a $16 chance with Blacks A Fake a prohibitive $1.12 favourite.

Brad Bishop