The holy grail of harness racing in Australasia has always been the Inter Dominion series until some brightspark changed the format three years ago and shifted the date.
What we have been left with since then is a series that is a shadow of what it use to be and due to its timing it is devoid of most of the major players on the Grand Circuit in Australasia.
The outstanding Beautide is back to defend his title against a field severely weakened by withdrawals or no shows.
Still Beautide can only beat what is placed in front of him and barring accidents that is exactly what he will do tomorrow afternoon.
So here is our runner by runner preview of the Inter-Dominion Grand Final.
1) Lennytheshark – Starts 33 – Wins 16 – Seconds 10 – Thirds 4 – Stakes $468,,550
A genuine Grand Circuit horse who has come back at five in great touch.
From the draw he can make his own luck but hard to see how going to war with Beautide will help his winning chances.
Second looks his for the taking from the draw but not if he gets sucked into a arm wrestle with Beautide.
The likely winner if anything goes wrong with the hot favourite so include in all bets.
2) Blazin N Cullen – Starts – 55 – Wins 15 – Seconds 8 – Thirds 7 – Stakes $199,672
Surprisingly given a wildcard even though he only ran fourth in the weakest heat in the series.
Did run second in the Gold Coast Cup and fourth in the Queensland Pacing Championship but both fields only had two genuine Grand Circuit horses involved in For A Reason and Avonnova so hard to give those results any weight in our view.
Too many here going better so not for us
3) Flaming Flutter – Starts – 47 – Wins 16 – Seconds 10 – Thirds 8 – Stakes $267, 395
In our view Flaming Flutter is in career best form and has run some great races this campaign.
Has been racing regularly since August but he seems to be thriving on the long campaign.
Really good sixth in the Hunter Cup followed by second in his heat to Lennytheshark shows us that Flaming Flutter from his handy draw is ready to run the race of his life tomorrow.
A definite trifecta and first four player for us.
4) Ultimate Art – Starts 44 – Wins 19 – Seconds 8 – Thirds 4 – Stakes $305,753
Won the supplementary heat which was the weakest heat in our view and only after getting every possible advantage during the running.
He is very honest but too many here have the class edge in our view.
Not for us
5) Beautide – Starts 71 – Wins 43 – Seconds 11 – Thirds 6 – Stakes $1,562, 212
Just a class above this field. When right he only has two challengers on the Grand Circuit in Christen Me and Adore Me and with neither of them here this is his for the taking.
Had a few issues leading into the Victoria Cup but heat win showed he was back to his best when he absolutely bolted in.
Barring accidents Beautide just wins.
6) I'm Corzin Terror – Starts 66 – Wins 18 – Seconds 11 – Thirds 6 – Stakes $329,982
Ran tough third in the Melton heat but still hasn't convinced us that he is a player here
That was the first show of form for a few runs after a poor tenth in the Victoria Cup and an ok seventh in the Hunter Cup.
Gavin Lang is a notable help in the bike but still only an outside first four chance for us.
7) Monifieth – Starts 59 – Wins 17 – Seconds 8 – Thirds 7 – Stakes $249,363
Ran a good third to Beautide in his heat but was a fair way from the first two.
Very competitive at the level just below the Grand Circuit but a few here would seem to have his measure in our view.
Even though he is as honest as they come, we struggle to see him being a player in the final.
Not for us.
8) Majestic Mach – Starts 49 – Wins 32 – Seconds 6 – Thirds 5 – Stakes $731, 354
Former outstanding two and three year old who has found the transition to the Grand Circuit a lot harder.
Did go really well in his heat in Brisbane but we are convinced the reason for that was the manner in which he was driven.
For once he was driven with a sit and as a result he rounded the race off really well.
This track suits that style of racing but not convinced that is how he will be driven.
Driven cold Majestic Mach is an outside trifecta and first four player
9) Terror To Love – Starts 73 – Wins 31 – Seconds 16 – Thirds 6 – Stakes $2,353,353
The enigma of the field in every sense.
If the real Terror To Love fronted tomorrow then Beautide would have some serious competition.
But he has a terrible record at Menangle for a horse of his ability and to make matters worse he appears to be several lengths off his best at the moment.
A career worst run in the Hunter Cup followed by a battling third in his heat against horses he would normally beat easily tells us that he will struggle tomorrow.
Not for us.
10) David Hercules – Starts 99 – Wins 37 – Seconds 17 – Thirds 15 – Stakes $1,189,419
Old warhorse from the west who has had a new lease of life this season now I'm Themightyquinn is not around in Perth.
Sound sixth in the Victoria Cup in his only start in the east this season although he did race three back on the inner the whole trip.
Draw makes it really tough for him but has more ability than quite a few here.
Track will suit but needs to be driven cold in our opinion to come into play for trifecta and first four players at big odds.
11) For A Reason – Starts 50 – Wins 27 – Seconds 9 – Thirds 4 – Stakes $1,046,240
One of only two horses in this field that we think could possibly trouble Beautide if the favourite was to strike big trouble during the running.
He is a proven Grand Circuit performer and followed an unlucky seventh in the Victoria Cup with a good second to Beautide in his heat.
Was clear of the rest of the chasing pack that night and from one on the second line he should get a very economical run on Lennytheshark's back.
Goes his best races with one run at them and drawn to get just that run.
Major player for quinella, trifecta and first four takers.
12) Easy On The Eye – Starts 58 – Wins 17 – Seconds 11 – Thirds 10 – Stakes $433,250
Only run of any note for us in this campaign was his good run for third in the Hunter Cup over 3280 metres so distance shouldn't be a worry you would think.
However did get a beautiful run that night three pegs and draw here makes his task a huge one
In New Zealand he had a reputation as a sprinter and was favoured over trips a lot shorter than tomorrows.
Run over in his heat over 2400 metres and that confirmed to us that he will struggle to be a major player here.
Not for us.
13) Avonnova – Starts 121 – Wins 41 – Seconds 23 – Thirds 12 – Stakes $588,569
Very under rated horse who has hardly put a foot wrong all season except when Shane Graham had a brain fart in the Miracle Mile and went crazy early.
Second line draw means he can stay out of the early speed duels for once and that gives him a place chance in our view.
Tough as teak and track and distance will suit down to the ground.
Trifecta and first four player for us.
14) Teo Enteo – Starts 62 – Wins 18 – Seconds 14 – Thirds 7 – Stakes $217,827
Has had just a passable season at best and just battled into fourth in his heat.
Stronger field and poor draw makes this mission impossible for him.
Best we can see him finishing is midfield so not for us.
15) Franco Ledger (1st Emerg) – Starts 74 – Wins 22 – Seconds 11 – Thirds 6 – Stakes $546,553
A combination of events led to him not getting one of the wildcard entries and it was nothing to do with the racing performances of Franco Ledger.
It is a real shame because the track is perfect for his style of racing and he would have been a big trifecta and first four player in our opinion.
If he somehow makes it into the race through a late scratching, then you need to include him in all your multis.
16) Wartime Sweetheart – Starts 135 – Wins 21 – Seconds 17 – Thirds 14 – Stakes $268,376
Really hard to see her being competitive even if she did make it back into the field.
Operates well at the level beneath the Grand Circuit but this is a bit rich for her.
Not for us.
SELECTIONS
Barring accidents Beautide appears to have a mortgage on the race.
He made a real statement in his heat and looks yards better than the rest.
Second is a toss up between Lennytheshark and For A Reason and we couldn't separate them.
After that it gets real interesting and for trifectas and first fours we would include Flaming Flutter, David Hercules and Avonnova.
For those wanting a wider coverage add in Im Corzin Terror and Majestic Mach.
Harnesslink Media