By Adam Hamilton
There were plenty of gasps in the room today (Tuesday) when the barriers were drawn for the opening round of Perth Inter Dominion heats.
The biggest four names in the series – Lennytheshark (eight), Hectorjayjay (eight), Smolda (nine) and Ohoka Punter (10) – all drew poorly.
The matrix for the barriers is nine across the front and one runner off the back row in all heats.
It makes for a fascinating opening night at Gloucester Park on Friday with all heats over 2130m.
Defending champ Lennytheshark opens the series in Friday night’s first heat and will start second from the outside (gate eight) in what looks the strongest of the three heats.
His major rivals include: Guaranteed 1, Our Jimmy Johnstone 2 and Beaudiene Boaz 5.
Mark Purdon’s Smolda fared even worse from the outside draw (nine) in the second heat, while Ohoka Punter will be the lone runner from the second line against him.
The other chances in that second heat, especially given the draws, look to be: Bettors Fire 3, John Of Arc 5 and Yankee Rockstar 6.
Purdon said Smolda had continued to improve in Perth since lightening off on the trip across.
“The extra time here has helped. Our horses had been here three days when I got here and it was noticeable they had lost a bit of condition,” he said.
“But since then everything has been good. They have all done well and I’m really happy with them.”
Purdon just sighed when told the draw. “Yes, he’s going to need some luck from out there, but he’s well going into it.”
Series favourite Hectorjayjay will start from wide (gate eight) against classy Kiwi raider Franco Nelson (five) in the last of Friday’s heats.
Bling In On will be a major player from gate two in that heat, while Restrepo (four) is also right in the mix.
The second round of heats are at Bunbury next Tuesday night over 2100m.
PERTH INTER DOMINION OPENING NIGHT HEATS
(Friday, Gloucester Park)
HEAT ONE
- Guaranteed
- Our Jimmy Johnstone
- Tricky Styx
- Stunning Grin
- Beaudiene Boaz
- Ultimate Art
- Our Jericho
- Lennytheshark
- The Bucket List
- Elegant Christian
HEAT TWO
- Phoenix Warrior
- Our Blackbird
- Bettors Fire
- Heez On Fire
- John Of Arc
- Yankee Rockstar
- Major Crocker
- Waylade
- Smolda
- Ohoka Punter
HEAT THREE
- Exciteusinthecity
- Bling It On
- Cyamach
- Restrepo
- Franco Nelson
- Flaming Flutter
- Freyberg
- Hectorjayjay
- Run Oneover
- Simply Susational
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