INTER-DOMINION TROTTERS FINAL SUMMARY:
THIS trotters’ series has appeared to be a race in two since night one.
Kiwi champ SPEEDING SPUR and Melbourne’s local superstar TORNADO VALLEY have dominated the heats and they look like dominating the Final.
TABCORP has TORNADO VALLEY the pronounced favourite at $1.70 with SPEEDING SPUR a $3.20 chance.
The most likely scenario for this race has TORNADO VALLEY working his way to the front from barrier six, with SPEEDING SPUR sitting on his back.
They are the best two trotters and from the lead-trail positions, they should run one-two.
You don’t have to be a genius to work it out but sometimes the most obvious outcomes are the right ones.
I think TORNADO VALLEY has the speed and strength to hold on and win this great race for Andy and Kate Gath, and obviously SPEEDING SPUR will be very dangerous late.
The others with trifecta and first-four hopes are SAVE OUR PENNIES ($15), BIG JACK HAMMER ($31), TOUGH MONARCH ($13) and KYVALLEY BLUR ($13).
Race 7. Group 1 $150,000 TAB INTER DOMINION TROTTING FINAL.
TORNADO VALLEY: Has been a revelation since arriving in Melbourne winning 16 of 18 starts here. Form throughout this series has been stunning winning all three heats. Has speed and stamina and he looks the leader and the one to beat.
SPEEDING SPUR: Outstanding Kiwi trotter has also been fabulous through this series winning twice and running third after a torrid trip at Ballarat. Has the draw to be very dangerous late, likely to be coming down the passing lane in the straight inside TORNADO VALLEY.
TOUGH MONARCH: NSW trotter has raced with zest and shown real ability during the heats. Has not had much luck with draws but he can track through here and has a solid place chance at least.
KYVALLEY BLUR: Veteran but still highly competitive at Group 1 level. Form during NZ Cup week was stunning, heat win in track record time Ballarat night two of this series showed what he’s still capable of. Trip suits, the faster they go the better he will finish off. Dangerous!
SAVE OUR PENNIES: Has done nothing wrong drawing well all series. Has finished second in all three heats, has good gate speed and will race prominently throughout. Has to be given a place hope.
BIG JACK HAMMER: Big effort when second to Kyvalley Blue second night at Ballarat, then charged home again when giving SPEEDING SPUR a fright last week. Needs some luck from awkward draw but respect with it.
SELECTIONS: TORNADO VALLEY 1; Speeding Spur 2; Tough Monarch 3; Kyvalley Blur 4.
INTER DOMINION PACERS FINAL SUMMARY:
WITH no stand-out horse this Inter Dominion series has been outstanding to watch and bet on.
The barrier draw for this Final has presented us with an intriguing race with six genuine winning chances.
For mine CRUZ BROMAC from the Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen barn in Christchurch, New Zealand, has the best overall form.
I would have been tipping him no matter where he drew, and for mine, the only thing a second line draw has done is give us punters better odds!
No matter how the race is run I can see Natalie Rasmussen putting this former Aussie pacer into the race at some stage.
Barring bad luck he’ll be too fast and tough.
The danger is stablemate SPANKEM, just a four-year-old but he has been a true revelation since this series started.
He charged into Final contention on opening night when a surprise winner at big odds, and he’s gone on to race brilliantly on all three heat nights.
His dominant win at Cranbourne last Saturday night was a little scary for a four-year-old.
Mark Purdon, who has won the past two Finals with Smolda and Lazarus, will drive SPANKEM in this Final.
GALACTIC STAR looks like holding the lead from gate one and he’s sure to get an early test from MACH DORO, who will hand-up if he crosses, most likely to SPANKEM.
TIGER TARA, a one-time favourite for this series faces a real dilemma from gate seven. Some believe he’ll find the front – I don’t.
The best roughie in this race is now SAN CARLO, who has been blessed with the perfect draw behind GALACTIC STAR.
I can see the WA pacer carting SAN CARLO all the way to the passing lane – then it comes down to whether he’s good enough.
IM PATS DELIGHT is the other winning chance. He has been impressive all series and is trained and driven by two of the best – Cran Dalgety and Gavin Lang.
Race 8: Group 1 $500,000 INTER DOMINION PACERS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.
CRUZ BROMAC: This former Aussie pacer has gone through the series unbeaten and he’s gone to a whole new level since joining the All Stars in NZ. A dominant and almost arrogant win last week at Cranbourne firmly places him at the top of the tree for mine.
SPANKEM: Stable-mate to CRUZ BROMAC, just a four-year-old but he’s been a true revelation this series. Fabulous win at Cranbourne last week after working mid-race. Clearly the danger.
SAN CARLO: Has attracted some criticism for his heat runs and the way he’s been driven, but again was strong in last heat at Cranbourne, and now draws the perfect gate to follow GALACTIC STAR, who looks the leader. Could be dangerous late.
GALACTIC STAR: Outstanding WA pacer, won first night and two heat runs since from horror draws have been outstanding. Gets perfect gate, has brilliant gate speed and looks the leader and a genuine each-way chance because of that.
IM PATS DELIGHT: Another 4YO, this time from Cran Dalgety’s Christchurch stable, has been fabulous right through the series and gets ideal draw. Has the services of the brilliant Gavin Lang which is always a plus in big races. Can win.
TIGER TARA: The draw has been brutal for this genuine war-horse. He has to go forward from gate 7 and unless someone hands-up, which is unlikely unless Todd McCarthy turns the handle bars down, he’s in trouble. Has the ability to win the race but needs a lot of things to go right from this gate.
SELECTIONS: CRUZ BROMAC 1; Spankem 2; San Carlo 3; Galactic Star 4.
Live on Sky: Trotters Championship 21:08, Pacers Championship 21:45