Who will be crowned 2017 Inter Dominion Champion?
Who will be crowned 2017 Inter Dominion Champion?
Sydney trainer Kevin Pizzuto was a happy man following the all-important barrier draw for the $1.1M Inter Dominion Championship Final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Pizzuto was all smiles after drawing the prized pole draw on Sunday for his tough seven-year-old entire and was quick to tell all and sundry that “he’ll hold the front and be hard to run down”.
The draw for the rich final is:
(1) Tiger Tara (NSW)
(2) Lazarus (New Zealand)
(3) Vultan Tin (WA)
(4) Soho Tribeca (WA)
(5) Galactic Star (NSW)
(6) Lennytheshark (VIC)
(7) San Carlo (VIC)
(8) Shandale (WA)
(9) Have Faith In Me (New Zealand)
(10) Chicago Bull (WA)
Emergency 1 – Ohoka Punter (WA)
Emergency 2 – Devendra (TAS)
Emergency 3 – Major Croker (VIC)
Emergency 4 – The Bucket List (WA)
Tiger Tara, a son of champion sire Bettors Delight, broke the Bunbury track record for 2100m in the second round of Inters heats when he led all the way from his pole draw to defeat a game Lazarus.
On that occasion, Tiger Tara commenced speedily from his draw and had no problems holding up.
He held the run of Lazarus after the New Zealand champ tramped three deep and then in the breeze for the last 1200m of the race.
Most experts agree that Tiger Tara has the speed to hold the front from his inside draw.
The only real question mark is if Chris Alford “lights the fuse” at the start on 2015 Inters champion Lennytheshark.
But that seems unlikely as Lennytheshark is not in the same form as he was two years ago.
Lazarus is the $2.20 favourite in early markets after setting a new track record for the 2536m journey in his heat win last Friday night.
He heads the market from Chicago Bull at $4, Tiger Tara ($5) and Soho Tribeca ($6).
ennytheshark is next in betting at $15 and then it’s just about write your own odds for the rest.
Dual New Zealand Cup winner Lazarus has the barrier draw trainer/driver Mark Purdon wanted for the final.
“I didn’t want barrier one or 10 (second line) or to be too wide so barrier two is perfect,” Purdon said on the Australian Harness Racing website.
“I don’t think he would be ideally suited to trailing so I didn’t want 10 and I am not sure he would have had the gate speed to hold the lead from barrier one.
“But what will happen in the race we will find out on Friday night.
“All I can control is looking after the horses and they are all well.
“Laz jogged his win on Friday and I can’t believe he actually broke the track record, he could have gone two seconds faster.
“He is settled in here now, enjoying his work and at this stage exactly where he needs to be.”
Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen also have Have Faith In Me in the final with the Australasian mile record holder surprising by qualifying in the last spot after a huge second to Lazarus on Friday.
“He has improved a lot during the series and it is great to have him in the final in what could be his last race for us,” Purdon said.
“He is under offer and if he passes all the vet tests he could be sold by Wednesday, but he would still race for his owners in the final.”
The other two main hopes in the final are WA’s Soho Tribeca and Chicago Bull.
The “Little Bull” is expected to get the run of the race parked in behind the speed and he has a devastating turn of foot if held up for one burst.
Chicago Bull’s driver Gary Hall Jr will be keen to trail likely leader Tiger Tara and issue his challenge to Lazarus and co. over the last 600m of the race.
Soho Tribeca, who finished the series as the top pointscorer with his two wins and a second, has a tricky draw to overcome in gate four.
But trainer/driver Kim Prentice has a huge belief in his charge’s ability and wouldn’t swap Soho Tribeca for any other horse in the series.
It’s very hard to accurately predict a speed map for such a prestigious Group 1 event worth $1.1M as there seems certain to be mid-race moves.
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis made a mid-race move on Have Faith In Me last Friday and he’s another horse who could take off early to pour the pressure on.
It’s extremely hard to confidently declare a horse in this race.
However, I did like what I saw of Lazarus in last week’s impressive heat win.
He seemed to relish the longer journey and should strip even fitter for Friday night’s assignment over the gruelling 2936m trip – just shy of four laps at headquarters.
Lazarus will have to do it tough to be crowned the 2017 Inters champion, but this is a horse that has never been beaten when he’s found the front.
So don’t be surprised if you see Purdon unleash his Kiwi superstar mid-race to take up the running.
You can bet Purdon won’t die wondering.
My tips: Lazarus to win from Chicago Bull, Soho Tribeca and Tiger Tara.
FOOTNOTE:
Five of the 10 finalists in Friday night’s Inters grand final have been sired by Bettors Delight, who has already sired a dual Inter Dominion winner in Beautide in 2014 and 2015.
His list of finalists is headed by pre-post favourite Lazarus, WA champion Chicago Bull, Tiger Tara, Have Faith In Me and Galactic Star.
Bettors Delight is also the sire of the emergencies in Ohoka Punter and Devendra.
Wayne Currall