This Friday night the Inter Dominions return to their traditional home in Western Australia and with that comes a return to the original format.
As the countdown to this years series starts,Perth has now confirmed that it is preparing to make a bid to to make Western Australia the permanent home for the series.
Perth already has the series locked in for the next three years.
John Yovich, the general manager of Racing and Wagering Western Australia has revealed that the richest pacing event in the world should have a permanent home in Perth.
"The first Inter-Dominion was run in Perth in 1936 and this is its spiritual home."
"We want to have the $1.3 million final as part of a huge racing carnival in Perth in November."
"We will leave no stone unturned and do whatever is needed to make Perth the home of the Inter Dominion into the future," John said.
This years series was scheduled for late November to accommodate horses from New Zealand who were competing at the New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington but that looks certain to change next year.
Perth aim to move the series forward by a week which will mean the first set of heats will be on the Friday before Perth's biggest thoroughbred meeting, which features the Winterbottom Stakes and Railway Stakes.
Gloucester Park CEO Michael Radley was philosophical about the changes.
"We set the dates for this year to give horses the chance to run in the New Zealand Trotting Cup and get to Perth for the series."
"However no New Zealand trained horse has made the trip."
"If we can fit in with the gallops we could really build this event into a racing weekend not to be missed."
"The best thing for the industry in Perth is to have a real carnival weekend and give people a reason to come to Perth for a racing event," Michael said.
With most of the early favourites having withdrawn from the series due to health or form issues, this years series has the feel of a series ripe for an upset.
The early $3:80 favourite for the series is the David Aitken-trained Lennytheshark, which won the Smoken Up Sprint at Melton last weekend.
Harnesslink Media