Rising 2YOs getting ready for raceday

As one year draws to a close a whole new generation of trotters and pacers are starting to hit the racetrack. 

This week has seen six more rising two-year-olds qualify ahead of the new season starting on January 1,2026.

The Alan Clark-trained pair of Celtic Prince and Jet Stream qualified at Ashburton on Tuesday in the Yearling Mobile Trot while Validation, All N Joy, Layton David and Eternal Perfection all qualified in the Yearling Mobile Pace.

Both were mobiles over 1700 metres.

Validation and Eternal Perfection are trained by Ross Houghton while Mark Jones prepares All N Joy and Layton David.

There have also been good numbers of rising two-year-olds appear at workouts throughout the country.

From October 1 each year yearlings are able to attend trials and workouts with racing getting underway at the start of the calendar year.

The first races of the new season start on January 23, at both Alexandra Park and Addington.

The latter will host a $15,000 Mobile Pace while Alexandra Park will host $17,000 Young  Guns heats for the Fillies and the Colts and Geldings.