Hercules’ tough Inter heat battle

Western Australian harness racing star David Hercules has drawn the second row in an Inter Dominion heat for the second successive year, but this time, driver Morgan Woodley will leave nothing to chance. 

After running fourth 12 months ago, David Hercules missed a berth in the 2014 Inter Dominion, and with only the winner of this year’s heat assured a spot in the $750,000 Final, Woodley plans to ‘take no prisoners’.

“We drew the inside of the second row last year and I eased right back to get off the inside, and I probably made the wrong decision, but drawn two on the second row this year I’m pretty happy to get up outside them and control the race from there,” Woodley said.

“He’s been a great horse for everyone involved, he has won a lot of races, competed against some nice horses, and if he hadn’t come along in the same era as Im Themightyquinn, he would have probably won more races and more prize money.”

Woodley drove Mysta Magical Mach in the 2012 and 2013 Inter Dominion, finishing second at his first attempt.

“Mysta Magical Mach and David Hercules are very different horses to drive,” Woodley declared. “Mysta Magical Mach had high speed and a good turn of foot whereas David Hercules is more dour.

“David Hercules was very workmanlike in the Fremantle Cup, he did his thing and got the job done, but his run in defeat in the WA Pacing Cup was great.

“He was three-wide to the breeze and only got beaten in the last little bit, it was a top effort and in the end probably took the edge off him when he went across for the Victoria Cup.”

Woodley is willing to make the trip across to Sydney to should David Hercules qualify for the TAB.COM.AU Inter Dominion at Tabcorp Park Menangle on March 1.

“In the end that decision will be made by the connections, but I plan to be going over, however, first things first, he has to win this Saturday night to guarantee he qualifies,” Woodley said.

• GREG HAYES