Having disturbed the red dirt that dared rest on the National Highway, Victoria’s cavalcade of Perth-bound raiders may also have the quality to leave the nation’s greatest pacers in their dust.
David Aiken’s Lennytheshark has romped to clear favourite for the Inter Dominion after a jaw dropping Smoken Up Sprint win.
Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s Philadelphia Man is on the second rung of betting, while Flaming Flutter returns to the grand Group 1 less than nine months after running second to dual winner Beautide in the March staging.
But while they battle for the lead and draw a wary eye over West Australian chances, including Waylade with its 70 per cent winning strike rate, another Victorian hope lying in wait may well steal the limelight.
Geoff Webster trained Franco Ledger is “an opportunist”, according to his driver Anthony Butt, who is well suited to Inter Dominion’s return to a traditional format of three heats and a final, which begins Friday night at Gloucester Park.
“(Franco Ledger) was a very good horse in New Zealand and has done a pretty good job since he’s been here,” Butt said.
“He probably won’t make his own luck, but has the capability to take advantage if it falls his way.”
Franco Ledger can tough it out, as seen in his brilliant last-to-second dash in the Hunter Cup when only Arden Rooney outlasted him.
And in a commanding win in the Group 1 Free For All at Menangle in March, which he was entered in after being tipped out as first emergency of New South Wales’ 2015 Inter Dominion.
Within that may lay the dilemma for the son of Falcon Seelster in his upcoming tilt – garnering enough points from the three heats to qualify for the December 13 final.
Heat one (November 27) is over 2130m at Gloucester Park, heat two (December 1) over 1609m at Bunbury and heat three (December 4) over the same distance as the final – 2536m – at Gloucester Park.
“The three heats won’t worry him, it is just a matter of getting early points,” Butt said.
“That is always the challenge in the Inter Dominion. If he can do that, coming into the final the longer distance will really suit him.”
Making matters more challenging, Franco Ledger has been drawn nine for heat one, and will start on the outside of the first line.
“We have a tough battle with the wide draw. He’ll more than likely go back,” Butt said.
“There will be a lot of speed drawn on the inside of him. Hopefully there will be a war on at the front and he can finish strongly.
“He is better over a bit of distance and if they go hard he can follow at pace and forward dash well in the last 600m.”
As for those who stand in his way, Butt said the favourite – $3.20 at TAB.com.au – was unsurprising.
“I definitely think Lennytheshark is the benchmark,” he said.
“He has been a good horse his whole career and is going really well.
“But he has got a lot of good horses behind him, including Philadelphia Man, who can be very good on his day, and Flaming Flutter, who is very professional and always gives his best.
“The West Australian horses also go very well over there. It makes for a really interesting series and really competitive racing.”
In Franco Ledger’s favour will be the fact a four-time winner of the Inter Dominion will be driving him home.
“I love it. I have been involved in a lot of Inter Dominions over the years and love the old format, which is a survival of the fittest,” Butt said.
“Not only is it the best horse that wins, but it’s the toughest.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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