Terang publican Darren Cole is living the dream in Perth for the TABtouch Inter Dominion.
The south-west Victorian horseman is at Gloucester Park tonight with reinsman Tim McLean and consistent fast-class pacer Exciteusinthecity, taking on the best of the best in the $1.8 million series.
He’s big odds tonight and even bigger odds to win the Inter Dom overall, but who cares about that.
“It’s everyone’s dream to get a horse in the Inter Dominion,” Cole said.
“It’s great to just have one in it, so we’ll see how we go.”
From barrier one tonight Exciteusinthecity gets his chance to show the gate speed that has long been his custom.
“We’ll punch forward as long as we can,” Cole said.
“Obviously we don’t want to cook him. Hopefully we’ll get on to someone’s back who’s going to take us to the line, but you never know we could end up in front, too.”
Exciteusinthecity is by Metropolitan out of Safely Kept mare Excite and has won 23 races from 128 starts for over $327,000 in stake earnings.
He’s coming off a good fourth in the Olympus Feeds Smoken Up Sprint behind Bling It On and Lennytheshark.
“He’s stronger now. He was always a bit weak and couldn’t stay but he seems to be able to stay now,” Cole said.
“He’s really tightened up since the flight over here and I think he’s spot on for tonight.”
Cole runs the Wheatsheaf Hotel and has said of his loyal patrons: “They enjoy following the horses – especially the faster ones”.
Heat one of the Inter Dom is 10.25pm Victorian time, with Exciteusinthecity out to excite the Wheatsheaf locals at 12.25am.
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