18 December 2023 | Len Baker
Once Australasia’s Grand Circuit feature – the 2023 Inter Dominion Series commenced at Brisbane’s Albion Park on Friday December 1.
Unfortunately the attraction of this great race has waned over the years with New Zealand, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania no longer a part, however the tradition continues and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and Racing Queensland presented a grand series unfortunately dominated by several short priced favourites in each heat following the way the barriers fell.
Here’s how I saw it:
NIGHT ONE – All races over 1660 metres !
Pacers Heat One: It was a Queensland victory with 4Y0 Always B Miki-French Charm gelding Future Assured trained and driven by Trent Dawson victorious after going forward three wide from gate five to cross Tommy Lincoln Mark Dux / Matthew Neilson (gate two). Rated to perfection, Future Assured scored by 3.1 metres over Tommy Lincoln with Konena Provina (a game third 4.2 metres away after racing exposed from the extreme draw. The mile rate 1-51.9. Victorian Rock N Roll Doo was given no chance from outside the front line after being taken back to the rear and Spirit Of St Louis after a three wide trail on his back after a four peg passage were never a chance. The mile rate 1-51.9.
Heat Two : It was Victoria drawing blood when 5Y0 Betterthancheddar-Power Of Eclipse 5Y0 gelding Better Eclipse was successful. Trained at Myrniong by Jess Tubbs and husband Greg Sugars, Better Eclipse wasn’t pushed at the start from gate five to settle mid-field in the moving line with local Captain Shuffles Ben Crosby / (Nathan Dawson) leading from gate two and NSW hope Betterzippit (gate six) for the Jason Grimson / Cameron Hart team) going forward to race in the open. Commencing a three wide move racing for the bell, Better Eclipse had little difficulty in joining the leader and with Greg sitting as cool as a cucumber, did only what he had to on turning to record a 1.4 metre margin over Classy Washington (Daren & Angus Garrard) along the sprint lane after trailing from the pole. Captain Shuffles held third 7.8 metres back. The mile rate 1-51.5.
Pacers Heat Three : Champion Queenslander 4Y0 Bettors Delight-Lettucereason entire Leap To Fame (Grant Dixon T/D) unbackable at $1-08 coasted to victory in 1-51 even. Trapped three wide from gate four, Dixon was unperturbed and pressed forward to lead at the bell after crossing Deus Ex Jack Butler / (Nathan Dawson – gate two). Allowed to bowl at his leisure, Leap To Fame untouched greeted the judge 4.9 metres in advance of Nerano (Grimson / Hart) team one/one from gate five last lap ,with Deus Ex holding third 4.6 metres away.
Pacers Heat Four : New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee (Jason Grimson – Cameron Hart) another shortie at prohibitive odds of $1-15 also treated his rivals with contempt. Not revved at the start from gate two as Turn It Up (Shane Graham) began brilliantly from gate five, Swayzee one balanced led with around 1200 metres to travel, winning untouched by 3 metres from Manila Playboy (Shane Fraser / Angus Garrard) along the sprint lane from three pegs. Turn It Up – Shane Graham) held third 1.5 metres away. A 5Y0 gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven and Lettucereason making him a half brother to Leap To Fame, Swayzee recorded a mile rate 1-52.5.
Trotters Heat One : Victoria’s speedy beginner and favourite Mufasa Metro (John Justice) led easily from the pole with co-Victorian Oliivici (5Y0 Orlando Vici-Belle Galleon – Chris Lang T/D dropping to his back from gate three and the pair had the race in their keeping a long way out. Kicking clear on the final bend as Ollivici eased off his back. Mufasa Metro and Ollivici in a two horse battle up the straight prevailed by a neck giving Victoria valuable points. NSW hope Constantinople (three pegs from gate five) for Belinda McCarthy and Jack Callaghan was third 2.7 metres away after using the sprint lane . Trained by Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar at Riddell. Ollivici returned a mile rate of 1-55.5.
Trotters Heat Two : It was a minor upset after Peter Manning’s very good 4Y0 Majestic Son-Pocket Fantasy 4Y0 gelding Plymouth Chubb (Cameron Hart) blew his rivals away in a pedestrian 1-56.6 rate. In a Victorian quinella, Plymouth Chubb trailing from inside the second line possied three pegs as raging hot favourite Queen Elida (Chris Alford – gate four) effortlessly crossed to lead at the bell from polemarker Sugarinspice (Pete McMullen) after going forward from gate four three wide. Extricated into the clear on turning, Plymouth Chubb a winner of $342,000 was third up since February when pulling up sore and sprinted brilliantly in a 27.7 final quarter to score by a runaway 3.4 metres over Queen Elida which gave zilch. Adelle (Jack Butler / Nathan Dawson) after racing in the open was third 4.5 metres back.
Trotters Heat Three : Defending Inter Dominion winner Just Believe (Tubbs/Sugars) starting from the pole was unbackable at $1-10 before winning with ease. Beaten for speed from the pole by Sir Fahrenheit (Daren & Angus Garrard) which speared out from gate five, Greg Sugars quickly eased off the markers to assume control and that was the end of race, registering a effortless 4.6 metre margin in 1-57.2 from Sir Fahrenheit which stuck to his guns. Funny Face (Jack Butler – Pete McMullen) one/one from gate three was third 1.7 metres back.
NIGHT TWO – All races 2138 metres.
The second round heats on Tuesday December 5 over 2138 metres.
Pacers Heat One: Queenslander Speak The Truth a 4Y0 gelded son of Bettors Delight and Private Bronski trained at Alberton by Shannon Price and driven by Adam Sanderson was victorious. Beaten for speed from gate two by the KerryAnn Morris/Robbie Morris trained and driven polemarker Petes Said So, Sanderson pressed on to take over on the first turn with the hot favourite Swayzee buried three pegs from inside the second row and Victoria’s Rock N Roll Doo trapped very wide from outside the front line. The race changed complexion shortly after as Swayzee angled away from the markers and Rock N Roll Dee eventually moving outside the leader after spending plenty of petrol. Heading for the final bend, Swayzee appeared to be struggling three wide with Petes Said So easing off the back of the leader to issue a challenge on turning. Going strongly to the wire, Speak The Truth scored by 1.7 metres from Petes Said So, with Swayzee a most creditable third 4.1 metres back and Future Assured fourth after following Swayzee home. The mile rate 1-51.9 (last half 54.7 – quarter 27.7.
Heat Two saw one of Menangle trainer Jason Grimson’s second stringers Nerano successful in a rate of 1-54.1 (53.7 – 26.1). Going forward four wide from gate seven to park exposed outside Turn It Up from the pole which safely retained the front running, Nerano gained cover at the expense of the Victorian favourite Better Eclipse (gate three second line) which was set alight racing for the bell to face the breeze for the final circuit. No sooner had Better Eclipse put pay to the leader, Nerano after angling outside the pair claimed them both to register a 1.5 metre margin over Better Eclipse and Turn It Up which fought on valiantly to be a half neck away third. Blacksadance after trailing Turn It Up was third 5.2 metres away.
Heat Three : Grant Dixon’s champion 4Y0 stallion Leap To Fame (Bettors Delight-Lettucereason) at long odds on was too classy and too tough for his rivals. Starting from gate two on the second line, LeapTo Fame wasn’t pushed at the start and bided his time four back in the moving line after polemarker Our Money Rocks (David Thorn – Chris Geary) led and Spirit Of St Louis (gate two – Belinda McCarthy & Jack Callaghan) ) dropped to his back. Following up Hot And Treacherous forward three wide from mid-field ahead of him racing for the bell to breeze for the last lap, Leap To Fame showed his customary great will to win by a head only over Spirit Of St Louis along the sprint lane, with Our Money Rocks third a half head away in a great battle to the wire. Classie Washington after a second to Better Eclipse on opening night was fourth albeit 19.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-52.2 (54.4 – 26.4).
Trotters Heat One : Chris Lang’s 5Y0 Orlando-Belle Galleon gelding Ollivici made it two from two by winning the opening heat for trotters. Taken back from outside the front line to settle three back in the moving line, the speed was a cracker as Sydneysider Funky Monkey sped across the face of the field from gate six before handing over to Victoria’s Queen Elida (gate three) with local hope Gus from the extreme draw being set alight by trainer/driver Chantal Turpin to pressure and take over. When Queen Elida came out to challenge in the last lap she looked to have Gus’ measure, however he refused to give in with the pair having a ding-dong duel all the way up the running whereas Ollivici which had been stalking the pair eased three wide on turning and did best to prevail by a nose, with Gus a gigantic third a metre back. Majestic Lavros (three pegs) was fourth 6.6 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.2 (58.2 – 28.6).
Heat Two: Victoria snared the quinella with the Tubbs/Sugars trained and Greg Sugars driven Just Believe outstaying Plymouth Chubb to win by a neck in an enthralling finish. Crossing Sir Fahrenheit inside him from gate two, Plymouth Chubb was definitely the one to beat, white Just Believe lobbed one/one from inside the second line following Mufasa Metro (gate three on the second line). Vacating the prime spot at the bell to race exposed for the last lap, Just Believe driven with extreme confidence prevailed in a rate of 1-57 (55.1 – 27.7). Mufasa Metro (John Justice) finished third 9.1 metres back ahead of Sir Fahrenheit who was a half neck away.
NIGHT THREE : All races 2680 Metres
It was a forgone conclusion that most of the major chances had little difficulty in qualifying for the Grand Final, with a tiny chance that a couple of the lessor hopes would do the same on tonight’s program.
Heat One and it was the Jason Grimson/Cam Hart combination victorious with 6Y0 Tin Tin In America-Jazz gelding Nerano who has blossomed during the series. Settling on the back of the leader Turn It Up (gate four), Nerano was shuffled to three pegs when Speak The Truth (gate three) outside the leader crossed. Held in a tight pocket for most of the journey, Nerano extricated wide to trail Spirit Of St Louis (gate six) three wide on the final bend and finished brilliantly to blouse Spirit Of St Louis by a head. Speak The Truth failed to run the trip finishing third 2.4 metres away. The mile rate 1-55.7 (last half mile 53.8 – quarter 26.8).
Heat Two : It was Victoria successful when 5Y0 Betterthancheddar-Power Of Eclipse gelding Better Eclipse greeted the judge in a mile rate of 1-55.4 (54.4 – 26.5). Driven to perfection by Greg from gate three on the second line as the hot favourite Swayzee became buried alive four pegs after Deus Ex (gate six) handed the lead to Classie Washington outside him. Sprinting sharply three wide in the last lap, Better Eclipse joined the leader on turning to register a neck margin over Classie Washington who was game in defeat. Kanena Provlima (KerryAnne Morris / Robbie Morris) came from six pegs to be third 9.3 metres back.
Heat Three : Champion Queenslander 4Y0 entire Leap To Fame (Bettors Delight-Lettucereason) enjoyed one of his easiest victories when a 9.9 metre victor in 1-55.1 (55.4 – 26.4) to go through the heats undefeated. Raced by millionaire Kevin Seymour and wife Kay under the banner of Solid Earth Pty Ltd, Leap To Fame was eased from outside the front line to possie three back in the moving line with NSW hope Pettes Said So holding the front from the pole. Going forward with two laps to travel, Lead To Fame was wisely gifted the front by Robbie Morris before coasting to the wire ahead of Petes Said So which held second two metres clear of Cantfindabettorman (Belinda McCarthy / Luke McCarthy) which had trailed the winner in the early stages
TROTTERS – Heat One : The Queen Elida that we know showed her real form when toying with her rivals. Spearing away from gate two which is rarely seen, Queen Elida was always travelling and when given her head on the final bend, raced away to score by 7.5 metres untouched from Plymouth Chubb (four pegs from gate four) before racing uncovered for the last lap. Polemarker Sir Fahrenheit continued his good form through the series for third qualifying for the final. Trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford, Queen Elida a 5Y0 daughter of Love You and Queen Kenny recorded her 31st success in 52 outings returning a mile rate of 1-59.6 (55.2 – 27.3). Chris Alford had been adamant that the mare would improve vastly as the series continued.
Heat Two : Outstanding Victorian Just Believe was mind boggling in his second heat success.
Beginning fast from gate three, Greg Sugars sat quiet outside John Justice’s Hatchback before giving him an inch of rein to cross shortly after start. No sooner had he eased, Gus after a slow beginning from outside the front line was off and running from the rear to circle the field to park and continued to apply pressure for the rest of the race. While all this was going on, Chris Lang aboard co-Victorian Ollivici was enjoying a sweet trip (one/two) spending no petrol whatsoever. Going forward swiftly three wide in the last lap to trail Just Believe into the straight, Ollivici looked a great chance of tipping out the favourite, however Just Believe went into another gear on turning to race away and score by 8.1 metres untouched. Adelle ran home late from the rear out wide for third 4.6 metres back. In quarters of 28.9, 30.3, 30.2 and 28.9. Just Believe set a new track record mile rate of 1-57.5 obliterating Empire Bay and Quietly Spoken’s 2-00.6 set in 2019.
GRAND FINAL NIGHT – THE FINALE 2680 Metres
PACERS – THE FIELD
Nerano (NSW) Jason Grimson Jack Trainor
Turn It Up (Q’land) Shane Graham Shane Graham
Swayzee (NSW) Jason Grimson Cameron Hart
Future Assured (Q’land) Trent Dawson Trent Dawson
Cantfindabettorman (Emergency)
Leap To Fame (Q’land) Grant Dixon Grand Dixon
Kanena Provlima (NSW) KerryAnne Morris Joshua Gallagherr
Classie Washington (Q’land) Daren Garrard Angus Garrard
Spirit Of St Louis (NSW) Belinda McCarthy Jack Callaghan
Speak The Truth (Qland) Shannon Price Adam Sanderson
Better Eclipse (Vic) Jess Tubbs Greg Sugars
Petes Said So (NSW) KerryAnn Morris Robbie Morris
Our Money Rocks (NSW) David Thorn Chris Geary
After three heats of strenuous racing in a week, Saturday December 16 saw the running of the 2023 Inter Dominion Grand Final over 2680 metres at Brisbane’s Albion Park Paceway and it was anticipated by most that it would be a match race between both favourites Leap To Fame and Swayzee.
A fantastic crowd was in attendance with all enjoying the racing.
Opinions were divided as to who would take over the front running from electric speedster Turn It Up (Shane Graham – gate two) shortly after the start with many suggesting it would be New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee (Cameron Hart – gate three), while others were adamant that local hero Leap To Fame (Grant Dixon T/D) undefeated during the heats would go forward from gate five to assume control.
There was even some mention that Nerano may kick up from the pole, however he was crossed easily by Turn It Up settling three pegs then four.
The lead was short lived by Turn It Up who was eased to allow fellow Queenslander Future Assured (gate four) to assume control leaving Swayzee exposed before dropping to trail Future Assured as Leap To Fame one/one cruised to the lead.
In a tactical mid-race move by Greg Sugars, Better Eclipse was sent forward from four back to race outside Leap To Fame before receiving cover after Swayzee came away from the markers to race exposed.
Kicking clear approaching the final bend, Leap To Fame In quarters of 27.8, 28.7, 27.2 and 27.5 after a lead time of 77.9 seconds, Leap To Fame scored with ease by 10.8 metres in advance of Better Eclipse who ran the race of his life, with Swayzee certainly not disgraced when third a neck away after never shirking the issue. Spirit Of St Louis ran his usual honest race for fourth four metres back, with Nerano fifth after being slightly held up approaching the home turn.
Raced by Millionaire Kevin Seymour and wife Kay under the banner of Solid Earth Pty Ltd, Leap To Fame ($2.30) returned a track record mile rate of 1-53.5 taking .2 seconds off former stablemate Colt Thirty One’s 1-53.7 set in 2019.
Touted by some as the ‘best standardbred ‘ in the Southern Hemisphere, Leap To Fame, a 4Y0 entire by Bettors Delight from Lettucereason has raced on 39 occasions for 29 wins and 8 placings for stakes in excess of $1,797.000.
THE TROTTERS
Mufasa Metro (Vic) John Justice John Justice
Funny Face (Q’land) Jack Butler Pete McMullen
Majestic Lavros (Q’land) Tayla Gillespie Matt Elkins
Just Believe (Vic) Jess Tubbs Greg Sugars
Queen Elida (NZ) Brent Lilley Chris Alford
Ollivici (Vic) Chris Lang Chris Lang
Van Sank (Q’land) Shannon Price Adam Sanderson
Sir Farhrenheit (Q’land) Daren Garrard Angus Garrard
Constantinople (Emergency)
Plymouth Chubb (Vic) Peter Manning Kerryn Manning
Thebestbourbon (NSW) Grant Forrest Cameron Hart
Adelle (Q’land) Jack Butler Nathan Dawson
Gus (Q’land) Chantal Turpin
Victorian champ Just Believe, a 7Y0 Orlandi Vici-Heavens Above gelding trained by the Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars team at Myrniong was a prohibitive short priced favourite at $1.20 in the Trotters Final over the same trip and didn’t let his supporters down when going for back to back victories sandwiched by a trip to Sweden for the world famous Elitloppet.
With ‘ace’ reinsman Greg In the sulky, Just Believe (gate four) began safely from gate four to immediately lob outside John Justice’s polemarker Mufasa Metro and without applying any pressure, was content to race in the open as the tempo was only moderate. John Justice had indicated before the race that he was going to try and lead and his judgement was almost vindicated.
Sitting quiet until prior to the final bend, Just Believe coasted to the wire in quarters of 30.8,29.9, 27.8 and 28 even after a lead time of 82 seconds to return a mile rate of 1-59.2 well outside his 1-57.5 set the Saturday before.
Queen Elida (one/two) three wide last lap was a meritorious third 2.3 metres away with Thebestbourbon (four pegs) fourth. Victoria’s other hopes Plymouth Chubb (three pegs) and Ollivici (one/three) could never get in the race finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
Congratulations to Albion Park and Racing Queensland on a wonderful series!
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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