Australasian harness racing has plenty of feature events - the Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile, Victoria Cup, NZ Trotting Cup etc., but the time-honoured trophy has always been the Inter Dominion Championship. The format has been varied for the last couple of years (Gloucester Park to the rescue from next year) but the history books will still say ID Champion 2015.
Analysing the final is harness enthusiast and aspiring racecaller Luke Humphreys, @worldracingluke. Forgive him for not focussing too much on the betting angle, he's not even half-way through high school yet!
-------------------
Inter Dominion – Grand Final
Tabcorp Park Menangle, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sunday March 1
Race 7 - 3:42pm local time, 0442 GMT
3009 metres – Mobile
Pacers
Heat Highlights replay link - Full heat replays linked under each runner.
Odds comparison
1: LENNYTHESHARK: Impressive enough when winning his heat, in Victoria, when having a comfortable lead and able to sprint home in 55.3. He was second in the G1 Victoria Cup two starts ago and was a star 4YO last season. He draws perfectly in barrier one, although he’s not the most electrifying horse off the arm. Has every chance.
2: BLAZIN N CULLEN NZ: Had a soft run in the supplementary heat when storming home for fourth place and gaining a wild card. He draws well, likely to hold a prominent position. A place chance at the best against this class.
3: FLAMING FLUTTER: Stormed home for second in the Victorian heat after having a soft run but not the best of runs thorough the field. Been very consistent this season, including a second place to Guaranteed in the G1 South Australian Pacing Cup. A place chance at best however.
4: ULTIMATE ART: Won the supplementary heat right on the line after having a soft run behind the leader, travelling very well. Not sure where he’ll end up from barrier four. Place only.
5: BEAUTIDE: Fantastic winner of the NSW heat when running quarters of 28.9, 27.8, 28.6 and 27.5, copping pressure from the front, and a mile rate of 1:54.4 for 2400m. Awesome winner of the race last season, when he also won the G1 Miracle Mile which he was second in this season. The one to beat.
6: IM CORZIN TERROR NZ: Fantastic run in the Victorian heat when three wide for the last lap, in fast time, and just running third. G1 Ballarat Cup winner in December. Draws okay but his run in the heat was fantastic. The roughie of the race.
7: MONIFIETH NZ: Had a perfect run to qualify in the NSW heat when third. Poor draw here. Not today.
8: MAJESTIC MACH: Former boom juvenile who got up right on the line to win the Queensland heat after having an easy run. Draws poorly here however and it will be tough.
9: TERROR TO LOVE NZ: NZ Champion who was good but not his true self in the supplementary heat. The best Terror To Love would have won that by a long way, regardless of any run he could have had. Horrible in the G1 Hunter Cup before that. Horrible draw as well. It could be his final start today, I believe, but he’s going to need miracles, unless he returns to the horse that has won three G1 NZ Cups he’ll make the miracles. Tough task unless back to his best but is he.
10: DAVID HERCULES: Superstar Western Australian who cruised to victory in the Gloucester Park heat but has drawn horribly here on the outside of the front row. Wouldn’t surprise if he flew across to try and look for the lead, which is probably his best chance of winning. If he does that he is in it, if he goes back at the start it will be tough. Each-Way but can win.
11: FOR A REASON: Draws to hold the back of Lennytheshark, which will undoubtedly be the best place to be. He had his chance in the NSW heat though when second to Beautide. Will have every chance.
12: EASY ON THE EYE NZ: Second in the supplementary heat after leading and just being caught late. Great third in the G1 Hunter Cup before that. The trip will suit him right down to the ground but he needs to lead in his races to be any chance, especially against this class, and there’s no chance that he’ll lead from this gate. Doubt it.
13: AVONNOVA: Queensland wonder horse that was a very unlucky second in the Queensland heat after doing a lot of work. He got a wild card, to get him in to today’s final but this barrier makes his job very hard. With some luck, he’ll be in the finish.
14 TEO ENTEO: Popular horse that stormed home for fourth in the NSW heat, from a long way back. Always was going to be tough against this class but after drawing barrier 14, his job is even harder. Doubt it.
15 FRANCO LEDGER NZ: First emergency that in most people’s eyes should have got a wild card. Stormed home for fifth in the Victorian heat when unlucky. Before that a fantastic second in the G1 Hunter Cup when flying home. If he gets a start, he can win.
16 WARTIME SWEETHEART NZ: Had his chance in the Victorian heat when fourth. Second emergency and whether he gets a run or not, it won’t make any difference to the race.
Summary
(5) BEAUTIDE won the race in awesome style last season and after winning his heat in second gear he is expected to go back to back. He won’t be any value though so if we're going to have a decent win in the Inter Dominion Final, on the punt, we should be betting either each-way or places. (11) FOR A REASON is going to have a beautiful sit on the marker pegs, one would imagine, so he is a clear choice for Quinellas, Trifectas and First Fours. (13) AVONNOVA has drawn poorly and would be better on the front row but at odds of $61 and $8.50 with TAB Fixed Odds he looks massive overs and would be one of my bets for a place. (6) IM CORZIN TERROR was fantastic in his heat and looks a good roughie from a fair enough draw. (1) LENNYTHESHARK draws perfectly but in all honesty didn’t look to have a lot left when winning his heat. (10) DAVID HERCULES has drawn horribly and all the travel of late may have knocked him around but with a bit of luck he won’t be far away.
Selections
(5) BEAUTIDE – (11) FOR A REASON – (13) AVONNOVA – (6) IM CORZIN TERROR
Analysing the final is harness enthusiast and aspiring racecaller Luke Humphreys, @worldracingluke. Forgive him for not focussing too much on the betting angle, he's not even half-way through high school yet!
-------------------
Inter Dominion – Grand Final
Tabcorp Park Menangle, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sunday March 1
Race 7 - 3:42pm local time, 0442 GMT
3009 metres – Mobile
Pacers
Heat Highlights replay link - Full heat replays linked under each runner.
Odds comparison
1: LENNYTHESHARK: Impressive enough when winning his heat, in Victoria, when having a comfortable lead and able to sprint home in 55.3. He was second in the G1 Victoria Cup two starts ago and was a star 4YO last season. He draws perfectly in barrier one, although he’s not the most electrifying horse off the arm. Has every chance.
2: BLAZIN N CULLEN NZ: Had a soft run in the supplementary heat when storming home for fourth place and gaining a wild card. He draws well, likely to hold a prominent position. A place chance at the best against this class.
3: FLAMING FLUTTER: Stormed home for second in the Victorian heat after having a soft run but not the best of runs thorough the field. Been very consistent this season, including a second place to Guaranteed in the G1 South Australian Pacing Cup. A place chance at best however.
4: ULTIMATE ART: Won the supplementary heat right on the line after having a soft run behind the leader, travelling very well. Not sure where he’ll end up from barrier four. Place only.
5: BEAUTIDE: Fantastic winner of the NSW heat when running quarters of 28.9, 27.8, 28.6 and 27.5, copping pressure from the front, and a mile rate of 1:54.4 for 2400m. Awesome winner of the race last season, when he also won the G1 Miracle Mile which he was second in this season. The one to beat.
6: IM CORZIN TERROR NZ: Fantastic run in the Victorian heat when three wide for the last lap, in fast time, and just running third. G1 Ballarat Cup winner in December. Draws okay but his run in the heat was fantastic. The roughie of the race.
7: MONIFIETH NZ: Had a perfect run to qualify in the NSW heat when third. Poor draw here. Not today.
8: MAJESTIC MACH: Former boom juvenile who got up right on the line to win the Queensland heat after having an easy run. Draws poorly here however and it will be tough.
9: TERROR TO LOVE NZ: NZ Champion who was good but not his true self in the supplementary heat. The best Terror To Love would have won that by a long way, regardless of any run he could have had. Horrible in the G1 Hunter Cup before that. Horrible draw as well. It could be his final start today, I believe, but he’s going to need miracles, unless he returns to the horse that has won three G1 NZ Cups he’ll make the miracles. Tough task unless back to his best but is he.
10: DAVID HERCULES: Superstar Western Australian who cruised to victory in the Gloucester Park heat but has drawn horribly here on the outside of the front row. Wouldn’t surprise if he flew across to try and look for the lead, which is probably his best chance of winning. If he does that he is in it, if he goes back at the start it will be tough. Each-Way but can win.
11: FOR A REASON: Draws to hold the back of Lennytheshark, which will undoubtedly be the best place to be. He had his chance in the NSW heat though when second to Beautide. Will have every chance.
12: EASY ON THE EYE NZ: Second in the supplementary heat after leading and just being caught late. Great third in the G1 Hunter Cup before that. The trip will suit him right down to the ground but he needs to lead in his races to be any chance, especially against this class, and there’s no chance that he’ll lead from this gate. Doubt it.
13: AVONNOVA: Queensland wonder horse that was a very unlucky second in the Queensland heat after doing a lot of work. He got a wild card, to get him in to today’s final but this barrier makes his job very hard. With some luck, he’ll be in the finish.
14 TEO ENTEO: Popular horse that stormed home for fourth in the NSW heat, from a long way back. Always was going to be tough against this class but after drawing barrier 14, his job is even harder. Doubt it.
15 FRANCO LEDGER NZ: First emergency that in most people’s eyes should have got a wild card. Stormed home for fifth in the Victorian heat when unlucky. Before that a fantastic second in the G1 Hunter Cup when flying home. If he gets a start, he can win.
16 WARTIME SWEETHEART NZ: Had his chance in the Victorian heat when fourth. Second emergency and whether he gets a run or not, it won’t make any difference to the race.
Summary
(5) BEAUTIDE won the race in awesome style last season and after winning his heat in second gear he is expected to go back to back. He won’t be any value though so if we're going to have a decent win in the Inter Dominion Final, on the punt, we should be betting either each-way or places. (11) FOR A REASON is going to have a beautiful sit on the marker pegs, one would imagine, so he is a clear choice for Quinellas, Trifectas and First Fours. (13) AVONNOVA has drawn poorly and would be better on the front row but at odds of $61 and $8.50 with TAB Fixed Odds he looks massive overs and would be one of my bets for a place. (6) IM CORZIN TERROR was fantastic in his heat and looks a good roughie from a fair enough draw. (1) LENNYTHESHARK draws perfectly but in all honesty didn’t look to have a lot left when winning his heat. (10) DAVID HERCULES has drawn horribly and all the travel of late may have knocked him around but with a bit of luck he won’t be far away.
Selections
(5) BEAUTIDE – (11) FOR A REASON – (13) AVONNOVA – (6) IM CORZIN TERROR
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comments, but if you're a spammer, you've just wasted your time - it won't get posted.