By Adam Hamilton
THE start of the Perth Inter Dominion is just six weeks away and many of the major contenders strut their stuff in across Australia this weekend.
Gifted Victorian Lennytheshark, second favourite for the Perth Inter final, returns from a spell in a strong VHRSC Classic (2240m) at Melton on Friday night.
It’s the David Aiken-trained star’s first run since winning the 4&5YO Championship at Melton on May 23.
Lennytheshark was primed for his return with a slick Shepparton trial win last Thursday night where he mile-rated 1min56sec and ripped home in 55.5sec.
But a wide draw and some quality opposition means this will be a serious challenge.
The rejuvenated Five Star Anvil has gate one, classy Tasmanian pacer Devendra is in three and Major Crocker is drawn five.
Both Devendra and Major Crocker are also being set for Perth.
Still in Victoria and Geoff Webster two Inter Dominion hopefuls Flaming Flutter and Franco Ledger are among the major players in Saturday night’s Group 3 Swan Hill Cup.
Flaming Flutter, runner-up to Beautide in last year’s Sydney Inter final, looks the one to beat from a 10m handicap.
Franco Ledger, who has been enigmatic this campaign, has to come from 20m back.
The lone backmarker is Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney, who is having his last lead-up run before heading across the Tasman for the Kaikoura and NZ Cups.
Also on Saturday night the Queensland carnival hits top gear with the $100,000 Group 1 Gold Coast Cup.
The Inter Dominion hopefuls in the race are: Shannonsablast (gate two), Mach Alert (four), Modern Ruler (five), Philadelphia Man (eight), Our Hi Jinx (nine) and Avonnova (13).
Victorian star Philadelphia Man looks the best horse in the race, but his task has been made much harder by a very awkward draw.
The Emma Stewart-trained star will start from inside the back row (gate eight) over 2138m.
Modern Ruler, now James Rattray’s major Inter Dom hope after Beautide’s latest setback, looks a major player from gate five.
Dual Queensland Horse of the Year Avonnova faces a massive task after drawing outside the back.
He drew the same barrier in last week’s Be Good Johnny Sprint and failed to beat a rival home.
The wildcard could be emerging NSW pacer Shannonsablast, who needs a huge showing to climb Inter Dominion rankings and make the cut-off for a berth in the series.
His effort to fight on for a close fourth in the Be Good Johnny after sitting parked last week was a career-best run.
And the Darren Elder-trained pacer has enough gate speed to take advantage of barrier two – which becomes the pole if first emergency Monifieth doesn’t gain a start.
In Perth, there are plenty of hometown Inter Dominion hopefuls stepping-out at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The most interesting of them is buzz former Kiwi pacer Billies A Star, a sparkling winner of his past two starts for trainer Michael Brennan.
Billies A Star, now into $26 on the Aussie TAB for the Inter Dominion, will be favourite to complete the hattrick despite gate eight in the sixth race at Gloucester Park.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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