2007 Inter Dominion Thread

[sethlad]

Inter Dominion kicks off at MV this Friday with the 1st round of heats.

For those who dont follow harness racing,the Inter is like the GF of the sport.
There are 3 heats(pacers) or 2 heats(trotters) over 2 weeks in which all runners vie for points with the top points scorers going through to the Final a week later(GDP on 13 Jan.)
Its a battle of attrition,many horses struggle with 4 runs in 2 weeks so it is a true test of both trainer & horse.

Sth Aust is hosting the 2007 Inter however MV is holding Rd 1 heats.Weird I know but its a $$$ issue for SA so as well as 4 runs in 2 weeks,horses also have to travel after the 1st rd heats.Standardbreds are a very tough breed.

Fields are out for Rd 1 at www.harness.org.au/

This series is always full of drama & upsets & with many agencies already betting on both Finals,its a good chance to back one & cheer it all the way through to the Final.

Will update with Rd 1 thoughts soon

seth

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

C'mon Robin Hood!!!

Be no better fairytale story of the ID if this old fella got up.

I just hope he stays sound through the carnival.

 

[who wood_collingwood]

I am on Robin Hood also. But I am a Lang fan, so thats why I am onto him, mind you, the horse goes alright too...

I too hope they can keep him sound for the series.

 

[sethlad]

Heat 1 R4 2575m
The distance of the race suits Flashing Red(8),he's as tough as nails.NZ Cup winner who sat outside Blacks A Fake in Vic Cup & got within a head.Inside draw is a slight worry but has G Webster so expect him to work to the death & be very hard to beat.May even find the lead as I doubt too many would want him outside them.
The Kiwis Winforu(4) & Foreal(6) are the obvious dangers.Winforu is a certain early leader but is almost as certain to hand up.Foreal is a brilliant sit sprinter but has always just struggled at this level.
Karloo Mick(1) ran 2nd in 2006 final so is good enough & will appreciate the good draw.Best of the rest would be the local The Warp Drive(10) but he goes best in front so draw is a big problem.

Flashing Red has never gone better & the only reason youll get black figures is barrier 8.Ill be taking them.The Kiwis both sprint quickly with the right trail but its a long series & both look a notch below FR.Make sure Karloo Mick's in your multiples

Heat 2 R5 2575m
Defending champ & series fave Blacks A Fake(9) will be short here.He's a winner this bloke,never looks impressive but gets it done.
Interesting to see how they drive Robin Hood(3).He was terrific in the Vic Cup & draws to be in front of BAF this time.
He's going in slightly underdone though & thats usually critical at this level.Just wonder if theyre keen to bust him in his 1st heat?
These 2 look the winning hopes with no bad luck.After that theres a string of promising horses having their 1st try at this class.
Make Me Smile(1),Sir Galvinator(5),Sweet Fame (7) & Toe Taper(8) have all looked good working through the classes but have drawn a tough heat.

Blacks A Fake has won 27 of 35,$1.50 is short enough but its hard to be on anything to beat him.Thought Sweet Fame might find the early lead then take a sit.
If so,he's a good place hope.

Heat 3 R7 2575m
Tricky heat with Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny(4) a certain fave.He is the proven quality in the race but he's a better short course horse & he struggled to get round the last bend in the Vic Cup.Not sure if all's well so I cant take $2.
The 2 rising stars are Smooth Crusa(1) who just missed 3rd in the Vic Cup after a Miracle Mile placing & Reba Rajah(5) who has been a revelation this season.
Won the Kilmore Cup,proved too strong for MM Smile & Foreal at HP then had no luck in Cranbourne Cup before a mystifying effort in a mile race at Shepparton last week.If alls well,he's a big hope.
Kiwi Tribute (2) has been good at both local runs & gets Gavin who'll give him every chance from the good draw.Poppys Boy(6) is an old marvel who handled RR easily at Shepparton & has never raced better.1st try in this grade but always gives his best.

Just not sure here, thought there were 4 terrific winning hopes.

seth

 

[sethlad]

TAB Fixed odds for tonights heats
Heat 1
F Red $2 from $1.85
Foreal $4.2
Winforu $7
K Mick $9 from $13

Heat 2
BAF $1.7 from $1.45
R Hood $2.6 from $4
MM Smile $13 from $11

Heat 3
BGJ $2.1 from $2
S Crusa $3.2 from $3.8
R Rajah $6.5
Tribute $7.5 from $7
P Boy $15

Money & plenty of it says Robin Hood is ready for a big start to the series,BAF is getting out to good odds for a horse with his record.

seth

 

[sethlad]

The Inter title is well & truly up for grabs with all 3 odds on faves missing a place in tonights 1st rd heats.

Heat 1
Winforu found the lead as expected,1st surprise was holding it.Ran along,went 27.8 3rd qtr & found plenty to run a track record 1.57.7.Foreal trailed 3 wide in the last lap into 2nd while Karloo Mick got out late for 3rd.Flashing Red went 50m below his best,jury is out.

Heat 2
Make Me Smile lead from Robin Hood after settling.Fave Blacks A Fake was 3 wide in the last lap but struggled to make ground in a 55.8 last half.Just when RH looked like he'd be too tough,local Toe Taper sprintlaned him at $22.They only went 2.02.1 so BAF's effort was ok.

Heat 3
Reba Rajah led & ran along with Smooth Crusa on his back.Be Good Johnny was slow out & worked to the death with Tribute getting his back.It looked like SC would win after the cheap run but Tribute peeled at the bend & won easily in 1.57.7 from SC & roughie Dee Dee's Dream.

Not sure what to think of these results? Will be interesting to see if a couple of the bigger names continue on after disappointing efforts.

seth

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

My Auntys brother-in-law is Peter Tonkin so i'm biased when it comes to Robin Hood.

He does an excellent job getting former good pacers that have broken down going again.

I remember when he got Paris Affair back up and running again and pinched the Hunter Cup, we won a fair bit that night

 

[sethlad]

He made his reputation with injury plagued horses,thats for sure.
It went great last night,hopefully he can take that form to SA
Looks wide open with the big 3 all struggling.

seth

 

[banzai]

i am surprised by the amount of people that have knocked Blacks A Fakes run last night. Personally i thought he went as well as he did in winning the Interdom and the Victoria Cup. 3 wide in a sub 56 last half at the Valley to only be beaten 5 meters in a decent field was probably as good as hes ever gone. All the big races he has won while leading. Will be even harder for him next start from barrier 10 over the 1800 at Globe Derby up against Smooth Crusa, Foreal and Be Good Johnny.

Flashing Red was certainly disappointing and Be Good Johnny was just average. Foreal went awesome in his heat, as did Tribute and Winforu. I would still think Blacks A Fake is the horse to beat in the final, but he will need a good barrier draw for the last round of heats just to qualify.

 

[thecarpetsnake]

I totally agree banzai. BAF's heat was not run to suit and I thought his run was very solid. He wasn't entitled to make ground while 3 wide in a second half of 56, but he still did make some.

In the case of Be Good Johnny, he wasn't all that great but he's not really suited to racing in the death. Also, the stewards report says he struck the mobile at the start so there might be a few excuses there.

 

[sethlad]

Series moves to GDP on Wed night with sprint heats(1800m).
NB:Globe Derby only takes 6 across but there is a sprint lane.

Heat 4
Best heat by far with 5 genuine hopes.Reba Rajah (3) & Winforu(6) provide the early speed & I doubt Winforu will want to sit parked so its likely to be a good battle.Poppys Boy(2) got back in his heat but is likely to go forward from the draw.If they get no breather,the 2 likely closers are Tribute(7) & Karloo Mick(1).

Winforu & Tribute both ran out of their skins to win heats so look hard to beat.RR made the track record pace in his heat & just weakened so is the likely fave from his better draw.KM is ready to win.

Heat 5
The genuine quality is Be Good Johnny(4) & Blacks a Fake(9).Thought all was not right with BGJ & thats how he raced while BAF ran as well as he could in a muddling heat.Foreal (7) went amazing & is racing tougher than ever.Smooth Crusa(2) was disappointing after a perfect run in heat but sprint trip may suit better.

BGJ is the best short course horse in Australia,having won 2 M Miles.
BAF will be straight to the death as he needs points.Looks the quinella.

Heat 6
3 hopes only here,Toe Taper(3) Robin Hood (8) & Flashing Red(9).TT sprintlaned to win his heat & is the likely leader.FR has to go forward & his only hope is to make it a grinding test.RH was terrific in his heat but his draw means FR will probably beat him to the death & that makes it tough over the sprint trip.

If FR finds his form,7/2 looks a big price.If not,TT & RH have it between them.

seth

 

[sethlad]

Fixed odds for tonights heats:
Heat 4
Reba Rajah $2.9
Winforu $3.6
Tribute,K Mick $5
P Boy $7

Heat 5
B G Johnny $2.5 ($3.20 available Betfair)
B A Fake $3.2
Foreal $4.5
S Crusa $5
F Roadstar $8

Heat 6
R Hood $2.2
T Taper $2.6
F Red $4.4

Once again,R Hood has been the best backed in any heat $2.85 to $2.2.

seth

 

[footyman]

What was the story with Flashing Red? Was in the TAB, didnt have Sky Channel sound on and there was no reason given on the radio.

 

[sethlad]

Elevated bi-carb level,its been an ongoing drama in SA & WA especially.

Actually a big part of the reason Fred Kersley got out of harness racing.
He held a dual code licence & couldnt afford a positive.
They were popping up every week in SA & WA a couple of years ago.

seth

 

[sethlad]

The major shock came off the track in the 2nd round with NZ Cup winner Flashing Red recording a high TCO2 level & being scratched from heat 6.

Heat 4
R Rajah worked hard to wrest the lead away from Karloo Mick.Winforu surprisingly went back from the gate & Tribute lobbed 1-1.RR didnt settle in front & was a sitting shot for Tribute & KM who sprintlaned to quinella spot.Winforu ran well,only beaten a hd.

Heat 5
The cream rose to the top as expected with BGJ($3.3 Betfair) working to the lead with BAF outside him.They spaced the rest with BGJ holding off the defending champ.Foreal galloped at the start & did well to beat a couple home.
Gimme quinella $4.80.

Heat 6
With FR's scratching it looked a 2 horse race & thats how it proved.RH got to the death softly & was never in danger with TT unable to outsprint him in a 27.7 last quarter.

Third round of heats are Sat night & always pose a punting dilemma.With most of the faves already qualified,its doubtful theyll be keen for a gutbuster.Be prepared for a few more upsets as borderline horses put it all on the line.

Its a different series now with FR unlikely to make the final.The spot outside the leader is now up for grabs so it seems likely that the Final will see plenty of mid race action.

seth

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Very happy with RH progress through the series so far.

Has been reasonably lucky with possibly having been in the easier of the heats so far.

Each run should be getting him nearer to peak fitness and hopefully spot on for the final.

All he needs to do now is get round the 3rd heat safely and then fingers crossed a decent barrier for the final.

Surely he has to be everyones sentimental fave, he's representing the Big V

 

[sethlad]

Last heats tonight at GDP,remember that most of the top chances have already qualified so be prepared for a couple of soft heat runs.

Heat 7
Wlnforu(1) looks the leader & in a heat where theres little incentive for anything to test him,looks the winner.Both his heat runs were excellent & he's a 20m better horse in front.Robin Hood(2),Be Good Johnny(3) & Karloo Mick(4) are all in the final already barring a catastrophe.

Hard to go past Winforu(1) as he's never gone better.Did see that Karloo Mick(4) is $21 in a win only market at TAB which is way overs if he's keen to win a heat.

Heat 8
Interesting heat with dual heat winner Tribute(3) drawing the front for the 1st time in the series.I doubt he'll be driven out of the gate leaving a battle for the lead between Smooth Crusa(2) & Toe Taper(4).SC has just battled but this looks his chance to win a heat as the other 2 have already qualified.Sir Galvinator(6) was good in the 2nd rd & needs a top 3 here to qualify.

No confidence here with top 2 already qualified & hard to take $3.2 SC the way its been going.Maybe something e/w SG at $21

Heat 9
Defending champ Blacks A Fake(4) will win if youre keen at the $1.20.

seth

 

[who wood_collingwood]

I am still thinking Robin Hood can beat BGJ or WFU

BUT

I don't think Gavin will bust the horses gut tonight as he is all but in the final anyway. One that has been going ok to me is Tribute.

One thing I do know which will be more than likely odds on tonight... is it will be bloody HOT!

 

[footyman]

Jim Jacques calls were just a tad over the top tonight weren't they?

Thought he was going to fall out of the box at one stage!

 

[sethlad]

One upset & two expected leaders won the last heats.

Heat 7
Winforu led as expected & held off a brave BGJ who seems to be relishing the series.RH was certainly not knocked about in running 4th & KM's driver lost the plot completely,getting caught wide then going back to last & finishing there.That error cost him a place in the final.

Heat 8
This heat always looked dangerous & so it proved with Franco Heir leading & holding off Poppys Boy to gain a final spot.Tribute who had won 2 heats was driven almost as coldly as RH in heat 1 into 4th place while SC's 3rd snuck him into the final.Our roughie SG was terrific after working 3 wide to the death & just missing a place.Will be hard to beat in the consolation.

Heat 9
Blacks A Fake won as expected with R Rajah & Foreal doing enough to gain finals spots.

Barrier draw is Tuesday night but BAF looks sure to run fave.

seth

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I'm kicking myself.

I was told at the start of his campaign to have something each way on Franco Heir as well as RH.

And i did for all his starts back from his lay off until this heat.

Good effort by Emma to get Franco into the final, though i'd say she would have had alot of good advice from Peter Tonkin(his son dates her).

I'm going to have $5 on a Franco Heir/RH quinella.

 

[linkman]

I like the way that Winforu has gone through the series. Is a perenial bridesmaid but if Blakes a Fake does not lead and Winforu get a position then he could be nice value.

 

[sethlad]

In the past you would have said Winforu struggles over the marathon distance of the Final bit this is his 3rd straight GF appearance.
Definitely going better than he's ever gone in this company but its all about the barrier for him,he cant win from back.

John Mccarthy (BGJ) has declared he cant win if BAF draws to lead him.

seth

 

[a_peterson05]

The barriers have been drawn for the inter dominion:

1. Robin Hood
2 Winforu
3. Smooth Crusa
4. Forreal
5. Reba Rajah
6. Toe Taper

7. Karloo Mick
8. Blacks a fake
9. Be good Johnny
10. Tribute
11. Franco Heir


After the draw i am leaning toward WINFORU, only because Blacks a Fake has a backrow draw and will hopefully end up buried away. Tribute's luck with the draws has ended and you would have to rule out Be Good Johnny from where he is.

Mine is:
Winforu
Rebah Rajah
Robin Hood

Trotters:
Touch of flair to good for the rest, even off 20m.

 

[sethlad]

Exactly the draw this race needed,no odds-on fave this year.

With KM scratched,BAF gets to follow out Winforu due to the SA rule where you follow out between the 2 horses in front of you.
Not sure barrier 1 is any help to RH either?

This should be a blinder now,5 or 6 genuine winning hopes

seth