Favourites and an upset create interest in Inter Dominion trotting heats

The ladies have dominated harness racing’s Inter Dominion heats so far and trainer Jess Tubbs added her name to the list again at Shepparton on Tuesday night (Nov. 29).

Tubbs’ trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) has gone through the series undefeated winning his second heat.

It seemed to be an effortless task as driver Greg Sugars let the six-year-old lead all-the-way under his own steam.

He clocked 1:57.7.

“It’s a great way to describe him, he is a dude,” said Sugars.

“He is just such a lovely racehorse.

“He’s had good barrier draws and easy sectionals and is well-placed in the series that’s for sure.”

JUST BELIEVE REPLAY

Tubbs also won a pacing heat with Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) in round one at Ballarat last Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the second trotting heat in round two had a fairer sex theme as well with star trotting mare Queen Elida (Love You) delivering in the $25,000 qualifier.

Leading throughout from the pole, Queen Elida stopped the clock in 1:57 pleasing reinsman Chris Alford.

“She was really good tonight,” said Alford.

“She came out of the gate well and held easy.

“She just does what she does.

“I couldn’t ask for a better horse to drive . . . she can go, stop, turn, she just does it all in her stride.

“The final is going to come down to luck in running and there are probably three standout horses with Bolt For Brilliance, Queen Elida and Just Believe but it’s still going to be a hard race to win but I still wouldn’t swap her for any others.”

QUEEN ELIDA REPLAY

While the favourites dominated the first two trotting heats in round two, there was an upset in heat three with Nephew Of Sonoko (Danny Bouchea) causing the boilover beating the favourite Bolt For Brilliance.

Driver James Herbertson took Nephew Of Sonoko straight to the lead where he remained throughout.

Bolt For Brilliance was back in the pack after beginning off a second row draw and made one long run at the leader, to finish a short half-head away in second with Always Ready a neck away in third.

The last split was 28.9 seconds and the mile rate was 1:57.0.

NEPHEW OF SONOKO REPLAY

Post-race comments from Bolt For Brilliance’s driver Tony Herlihy reveal that lengths were lost in the back straight when the reinsman went to pull the string that activates the blinds, broke, only one ear plug released and he momentarily locked wheels with another runner.

Bolt For Brilliance is still the favourite to win the Inter Dominion Trotting Final on December 10 at Tabcorp Park Melton.

NOTE: Female trainers have won all pacing heats so far – Emma Stewart has won four with Act Now, Mach Dan and Honolua Bay going back-to-back; Jess Tubbs with Better Eclipse and Belinda McCarthy with Spirit Of St Louis.

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink