Three New Zealanders, an adopted Victorian and a Western Australian were the major winners on the opening night of the Inter Dominion at Tabcorp Park Melton.
PACERS: HEAT ONE
It was nothing new to see the Christchurch based “All Stars” team of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen victorious as they have dominated the series for the past two years. It was Kaikoura Cup winner Spankem to impressively gain the day in a mile rate of 1-54.3. Driven by Nat, Spankem a 4Y0 Bettors Delight-Crushem gelding was eased from gate five to settle four back in the moving line with polemarker My Alpha Rock piloting the field as expected. WhenTiger Tara (gate four) went forward from three back to join the leader, Gavin Lang seized the opportunity to allow Im Pats Delight to zoom up and join My Alpha Rock, but had little chance of crossing. Commencing a forward move three wide racing for the bell, Spankem easily got to the spot outside My Alpha Rock for the final circuit. Asked for an effort on turning, Spankem (12.10) raced clear shortly after to record a 3.2 metre margin over Im Pats Delight (6.50) which had shifted down to the sprint lane on straightening, with Tiger Tara ($3.40) flashing late to be a head back in third place. My Alpha Rock held down fourth ahead of a game Wrappers Delight which raced very wide in the last lap. In winning, Spankem returned a mile rate of 1-54.3 (Last half mile 56.4 – quarter 28.1).
HEAT TWO: The sole WA acceptor 6Y0 Bettors Delight-Petra’s Star gelding Galactic Star ($10.00) trained by Greg and Skye Bond with Todd McCarthy in the sulky, led throughout from gate four to defeat a game San Carlo which was sensationally backed into a $2.80 favourite, coming from four back in the running line to occupy the “death-seat” for the last lap after starting from gate three on the second line to go down by a metre in 1-54.1 (half 55.1 – 27.4) . Mach Doro ($8.90) was third 2.2 metres away after trailing the winner.
HEAT THREE: One again the dominance of the “All Stars” was prevalent when much travelled Falcon Seelster – Crown Defender gelding Cruz Bromac (Natalie Rasmussen) scored in 1-53.8 the quickest of the three heats. Not pushed out from gate three as polemarker Cash N Flow led easily with Our Uncle Sam on his outside, Cruz Bromac had little difficulty in zooming to the front shortly after. Controlling the race to a nicety, Cruz Bromac a prohibitive $1.20 favourite won unextended by 5.1 metres (last half 55.3 – 26.8) over Cash N Flow ($8.40) which made no impression along the sprint lane, with old timer and ex-claimer Maximan ($37.80) running the race of his life for third 1.1 metres away after going forward from mid-field to race exposed.
TROTTERS : HEAT ONE
Andy and Kate Gath’s Kiwi bred Skyvalley-Begin 7Y0 gelding Tornado Valley is almost invincible when he leads and that was the case here, much to the delight of owner – Queensland developer Norm Jenkin. Driven as usual by Kate, Tornado Valley (gate six) began on terms with those on his inside as Save Our Pennys led from gate two. With the lead up for grabs, Tornado Valley spent little petrol in sliding clear after a couple of hundred metres and the race was virtually over. After cruising along at his leisure, Sydneysider Tough Monarch put a little spice into the race as he tried to apply pressure to the leader approaching the home turn after going forward mid-race to park in the open, however Tornado Valley ($1.30) was much too solid over the concluding stages, winning by 1.4 metres in advance of Save Our Pennys ($52.10) which stuck to his guns after an easy passage. Tough Monarch ($15.60) held down third 13.3 metres away a margin ahead of the rest headed by Big Jack Hammer (four back the markers). The mile rate 1-57 (last half mile 56.9 – quarter 29.2).
HEAT TWO: North Islander Speeding Spur, an ultimate professional at his game trained in partnership by John and Josh Dickie appeared to have a mortgage on the race after drawing gate two and that’s the way things panned out. Leading out as the mobile barrier pulled away, Speeding Spur, a 7Y0 Pegasus Spur-Della’s Speed entire was given a sweet passage by Josh, travelling beautifully without any pressure being applied. Kicking clear on turning, Speeding Spur ($1.30) cruised to the wire 8.5 metres clear of Maori Law ($5.90) who’s effort was full of merit after being trapped wide in the early stages before easing to settle four back, then sprinting sharply in the last lap to join the leader prior to the home turn. Rompers Monarchy ($45.70) which enjoyed a cosy trip three back the markers was third 5.2 metres away after utilizing the sprint lane. The mile rate 1-58.7 (56.2 – 28.3).
The second round heats are at Ballarat on Tuesday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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