PREVIEW: GTC Gippsland Gift 2023

Our preview of the 2023 GTC Gippsland Gift is here!

Five Victorian representatives, Elly Fleming (U18 800m), Maddy Boyd (U17 800m), Cass Farley (U15 800m/1500m), James Denton (U15 400m) and Annabella Denton (U14 400m) will headline this year's GTC Gippsland Gift. As we analyse every single runner over the open, masters and youth events.

GIPPSLAND GIFT - 100M OPEN

Elly Fleming in the 800m at the Australian U18 Championships

100m GTC GIPPSLAND GIFT

Top 2 > Final

(HANDICAP) HEAT 1

0 James Denton The backmarker, coming off nationals in red hot form

7 Hunter Aurisch Keen and strong, must cover the distance.

12 Zaria Dalton Runner up in the 2022 100m Gippsland Girls' Championship

14 Aleasha Read Improving with every race

15 Vanessa Buhagiar 2022 100m Youth Gift Champ, now moves up to the seniors

15 Eshana Cheema Gift debut, here for the senior experience

(HANDICAP) HEAT 2

3 Jett Schofield 2021 Gift runner up, struggled at Stawell, will need to lift

10 Annabella Denton Young gun . Soft surface will be the test.

13 Shae-lee Evans Always in the mix

14 Debbie Husodo Warmup for the 1000m

15 Darcy Knowles Tough season, but looks to be on the rise again

15 Matilda Farley 3rd Gippsland Gift, more suited to the longer distance

(HANDICAP) HEAT 3

HEAT 3

5 Chris Dwyer A proven race winner. Speed will be the test.

8 Elly Fleming Steps down in distance. 3rd place finish last year

13 Mia van de Vyver A sash winner over the 400m

14 Cass Farley Will come home strong

15 Lily Marazzato Makes debut, could be a wildcard

15 Charlotte Cunningham Learning with every race.

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last Year's Gift Winner	RACHEL O'BRIEN GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Jett Schofield (3m)	Jett Schofield (3m)	James Denton (0m)

GTC MASTERS MILE HANDICAP

Gordon Knight on his way to winning the Masters 1600m at the Stawell Gift

MASTERS MILE GIFT

HANDICAP (sec)

35 John Charles The backmarker. 3rd in Mile at the GTC Challenge earlier in the season

25 Gordon Knight Experienced, but fitness will be tested this year

20 Robert Knowles Last year's Masters Mile Gift champion and has improved

0 Oscar Husodo Consistent performer, the one to chase

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last year's Gift winner	RACHEL O'BRIEN GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Oscar Husodo (0sec)	John Charles (35sec)	John Charles (35sec)

GTC 400M OPEN HANDICAP

Annabella Denton is in form, after setting a new 400m personal best at the Australian Junior Championships last week

(HANDICAP) FINAL 400M

HANDICAP

0 James Denton Has a lonely chase early on, but in red hot form

40 Maddy Boyd Made her National debut last week

45 Annabella Denton Fresh off a 400m PB at the National Champs

50 Hunter Aurisch Will go hard early, but the close will be the test

60 Zaria Dalton 2022 Gippsland Girls' 400m Champ

65 Darcy Knowles On the up, a big chance

70 Shae-lee Evans Runner up last year, will be determined to go one better

70 Mia van de Vyver The returning champ. Pulled back 15m after last year

75 Isaac Frost Will be in the mix

80 Matilda Farley Has the potential and off a mark that has won

90 Lily Marazzato The wildcard. On debut

90 Vanessa Buhagiar Steps up to the seniors

100 Olivia Sargent The frontmarker, who will set the running early

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last year's Gift Champion	RACHEL O'BRIEN GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Mia van de Vyver (70m)	Shae-Lee Evans (70m)	James Denton (0m)

GTC 1000M OPEN HANDICAP

(SEC: HANDICAP) GTC 1000M OPEN HANDICAP

60 Chris Dwyer Lookout for a big finishing kick

55 Jett Schofield Will fancy his chances

50 Cass Farley Australian 800m & 1500m U15 Finalist

40 Debbie Husodo On the comeback trail. 2nd in in 2021

40 Alexander Rajan Always likes to step up to the open ranks

40 Marcos Solly On debut, could be the wildcard

35 Aleasha Read The big improver, one to watch

25 Gordon Knight Will have to backup after the Mile

25 Isaac Frost Youngster, stepping up

20 Mikio Taylor Mannix Big opportunity

15 Charlotte Cunningham Big chance if she finds her rhythm mid race

0 Laura Coleman Will give the field something to chase

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last year's Gift Champion	RACHEL O'BRIEN GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Alex Rajan (40sec)	Chris Dwyer (60sec)	Chris Dwyer (60sec)

Australian U10 800m & 1500m Finalist headlines our youth races

GTC YOUTH 100M & 400M PRIMARY HANDICAP

100M YOUTH Top 2 >>> Final

(HANDICAP) HEAT 1

0 Patrick Centra The backmarker

5 Isaac Frost Lively from the start

8 Vanessa Buhagiar The returning champion

8 Mikio Taylor Mannix A wildcard

13 Kobe Hiskins Potential

(HANDICAP) HEAT 2

1 Annabella Denton The one to watch

5 Alexander Rajan Endurance no problems, acceleration the test

7 Lilijah Deveson Consistent performer

8 Olivia Sargent Form unknown, was strong at the end of 2022

9 Eshana Cheema Will finish strongly

13 Anastasia Dwyer New found speed

(HANDICAP) HEAT 3

3 Zaria Dalton Consistent at the state level

6 Xavier Farley On his day is very good

7 Jessica Brewer Last year's 400m Primary Gift Champion

8 Lylah Hiskins One to watch

14 Charlotte Sargent Every chance when focused

15 Morgan Knowles Will be ready to run

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last year's Gift Champion	RACHEL O'BRIEN GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Alexander Rajan (5m)	Annabella Denton (1m)	Patrick Centra (0m)

400M PRIMARY HANDICAP FINAL

(HANDICAP) FINAL 400M

HANDICAP

0 Alexander Rajan A good test from the back

5 Patrick Centra Has the speed, but will be tested over the distance

10 Xavier Farley Shows glimpses

20 Lylah Hiskins Touted as one to watch

45 Kobe Hiskins Youngster, developing well

50 Eshana Cheema Steps up in distance, speed shouldn't be a problem

55 Lilijah Deveson Endurance test, will start off strongly

60 Jessica Brewer The champ, one to watch

70 Anastasia Dwyer Could surprise

90 Morgan Knowles 2nd year at the gift, will bring experience

GTC Celebrity Tipsters >>>>

FINN STAPLE Last year's Gift Champion	BRENDAN FARLEY GTC 1km Record Holder	DEAN HUFFER The Physio
Alexander Rajan (0m)	Alexander Rajan (0m)	Alexander Rajan (0m)