One of the fastest harness racing ponies on the island is set to make his long-awaited season debut at the National Equestrian Centre on Boxing Day.

Special Gold, co-owned by father and son Lee and Sergio Raynor, will be among the entries battling for bragging rights in the Free for All Division featuring the fastest ponies.

It remains to be seen how Raynor’s stallion performs during his first outing in the heat featuring in-form geldings War Machine and Simsfield Hardtimes.

Mello Family’s War Machine holds the season’s fastest time of 1:01.3 while Simsfield Stables’s Simsfield Hardtimes has been the most consistent pony at the racetrack having racked up several victories, including nine on the trot.

Expectations remain high for Simsfield Hardtimes, who is the son of former world record holder GV Sir Tux and held the season’s fastest time before War Machine lowered it.

Special Gold came into his own last season after breaking Big Red Machine’s 12-year-old stallion’s track record with driver Kirista Rabain in the bike.

The blistering time of 1:01.2 is also a lifetime best for Raynor’s pony and the fastest time posted last season, which was equalled by Simsfield Hardtimes.

Special Gold missed the first half of the season after owner Lee Raynor took ill.

“I was not well for a while, which set me back,” he told The Royal Gazette on the eve of the season opener in September.

“I am going to give him [Special Gold] a couple of weeks. I am just doing a little speed work, nothing crazy, and bringing him along slowly.”

Boxing Day racing begins at 1pm and will again feature ponies competing across a range of time bars.

Festive harness racing then continues on New Year’s Day with racing again scheduled to commence at 1pm at the Vesey Street racetrack.