Nominations for the 2017 TABtouch inter Dominion have officially closed with Racing & Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) and for the third successive year the list is outstanding.
98 nominations have been received including five from New Zealand, 19 from NSW, 12 from Victoria, two from Tasmania and one from Queensland. Locally there have been 59 entries lodged. Overall, the 98 nominations have won a combined total of 1701 races and earned over a staggering $34.6 million in career stakes.
Leading the nominations is champion kiwi pacer Lazarus from the all-powerful Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stable. Australasia’s most dominant stable took out the series last year with the recently retired war horse Smolda and have doubled down in 2017, nominating Grand Circuit Champion, Lazarus, Australasia’s fastest mile record holder Have Faith In Me and star mare Our Dream About Me and former outstanding juvenile Our Waikiki Beach.
Last season, Lazarus claimed the title as Australasia’s best pacer with wins in the Victoria and NZ Cups as well as the Group One Chariots Of Fire. So far, he has won 27 of his 32 career starts and banked $2.156 Million in stakes.
Victorian David Aiken will be back with his $2.658 Million dollars earner and 2015 Inter Dominion winner, Lennytheshark. Unfortunately, Aiken’s other big name, Hectorjayjay, who was originally nominated, will have to be withdrawn after sustaining an injury in training.
The locals are led by a pair of rising five-year-olds. Defending Fremantle and WA Pacing Cup winner, Chicago Bull has dominated the open class ranks in Perth since graduating from age racing, while last season’s Golden Nugget winner, Soho Tribeca for trainer Kim Prentice and owner Robert Watson, returned to Victoria for a ‘hit and run mission’ to take out the Group One $120,000 Vicbred Super Series Final at Melton in July.
“The quality of nominations is simply outstanding” said RWWA Manager of Harness Racing, Barry Hamilton
“The 2017 series, at this stage, appears to be the strongest of the three years and we have saved the best series for last”
Gloucester Park Harness Racing President John Burt was equally as impressed
“It’s wonderful that we have such quality in nominations from all over Australia and New Zealand and its what the Inter Dominion was meant to be when it was created by James Brennan and JP Stratton here in Perth way back in 1936” said Burt
“We look forward to hosting everyone at Gloucester Park in what will be a special two weeks of racing” Burt added.
The TABtouch Inter Dominion will commence with the first set of heats on Friday 24 November, before travelling to Bunbury for the second set of heats on Tuesday 28 November. The third set of heats returns to Gloucester Park on Friday 1 December and the $1.1M Grand Final will be conducted on Friday 8 December.
Interstate and International visitors can witness all the action of the 2017 TABtouch Inter Dominion through official tour operator, Harness Racing Travelworld. This year’s tour will be based at beautiful and historic Fremantle for the first five nights, followed by a two-night tour to the Margaret River region, where some of the best food and wine in the world is produced. It will also include premium restaurant bookings for the heats and Grand Final. To book freecall 1800 628 383 or visit the website www.harnessracingtravel.com.
For the full list of nominations and further information regarding the series visit www.perthinterdominion.com.au.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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