At the official Launch of the 2016 TABtouch Perth Inter Dominion today at Gloucester Park it was announced that with just over a week to go until nominations close for the 2016 Series, already a healthy number of nominations have been forwarded to Racing and Wagering Western Australia, headlined by defending champion Lennytheshark.
This year trainer David Aiken will prepare a two-pronged attack with rising star HectorJayJay joining last year’s champion at the head of the nominations.
Special guest at the Launch, Aiken says his team is progressing nicely for the Series.
“Lenny has just come back into work and it would be something special to go back to back” he said
The powerful Emma Stewart Stable is expected to nominate four horses, including Yankee Rockstar, come-back pacers Guaranteed and Restrepo, and Breeders Crown Champion Ideal for Real.
From New Zealand, Australasia’s strongest stable the All Stars is set to nominate Miracle Mile winner Have Faith In Me and Hunter Cup winner Smolda.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon said via a video played at today’s TABtouch Inter Dominion Launch that Smolda was the more likely of the two to compete in Perth.
“We will nominate Smolda and Have Faith In Me and subject to how Have Faith In Me performs in standing starts leading up to the Cup depends as to which way we will go with him” said Purdon.
Of the locals, once again Gary Hall Snr should play out a strong hand with last year’s Retravision Golden Nugget winner Beaudiene Boaz leading his list of nominations.
“We are 10 days away from the close of nominations for the 2016 series” said GPHR President John Burt.
“Already we have over 25 nominations from four different states, and it’s no surprise that included in those nominations is the defending champion Lennytheshark!, he continued.
“The signs are this will be an exceptionally strong year and we look forward to many eastern states and New Zealand horses taking on our locals for Australasia’s greatest race. ”
Nominations must be received by Racing and Wagering Western Australia by 4.00pm WST on Friday 9 September 2016. There is no nomination fee for the 2016 TABtouch Inter Dominion.
Also announced at the 2016 TABtouch Inter Dominion Launch was the running of the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship. Ten drivers from across Australasia, including four from New Zealand and one from each state of Australia will compete in a series of races across Perth in a contest to be crowned the winner on TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final night at Gloucester Park.
21 year-old Stuart McDonald will be Western Australia’s representative in the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship. McDonald has had 156 career wins, with 81 wins during the 2015/16 season.
Defending champion Robbie Close will once again represent New Zealand in the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship, with the other representatives being Todd McCarthy from NSW, Jason Lee Victoria, Jayson Finnis South Australia, Wade Rattray Tasmania, Nathan Dawson Queensland, Brad Williamson South Island, Kyle Marshall North Island, and Matt Anderson also representing New Zealand.
The Series will kick off at Gloucester Park on Friday 2 December 2016, followed by two heats at Bunbury the next night, two at Pinjarra on 5 December, two at Northam on 6 December and two at Narrogin on 8 December, before the final heat at Gloucester Park on 9 December.
For further information please contact:
Michael Radley, Chief Executive Officer, Gloucester Park Harness Racing
0431 945 329/ mradley@gloucesterpark.com.au
30 August 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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