Lone mare might upset the boys in ID24 Final

The lone mare in Saturday night’s $500,000 TAB Inter Dominion Pacers Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Menangle might bring a few of the ‘boys’ undone.

My Moonlite Dream has been tipped as the early leader in the Group 1, leaving her harness racing trainer-drive Seaton Grima with quite a decision.

Certainly, the mare, a $14 shot in early markets, is expected to take a sit behind one of the other runners, possibly Eureka winner Don Hugo, as an all-the-way win would be just too much to expect.

The five-year-old mare exceeded expectations her stable’s expectations by making the final but deserves her place against the best pacers in the country after finishing fifth in the first round of heats, followed by two runners-up efforts in rounds two and three.

Drawn in gate four tonight, Grima is likely to spear out of the mobile, take the early lead and then look for some cover.

“I’ve been trying to keep myself as busy as possible all week and not overthink it too much,” said Grima.

“To be a part of a race like this early in my career is certainly an honour.

“I really thought Don Lou might be our best chance of making the final, but this mare has surprised us right through the series.

“Her round three heat run was good as they ran quick time, she did some work early to get across and although she didn’t run the leader down it was a big run as she was still coming on the line.

“If I could have picked the barrier, I would probably have picked four and gate speed is her biggest asset, so it has worked out well.”

Grima said the ideal scenario tonight would be to find the front as easily as possible and then hand up to a horse like Don Hugo.

“She has handled the whole series really well,” he said.

“She can be a bit of a hothead at home, but I expect she’ll cope with the retention barn OK.”

Grima said he would love to win the Inter Dominion and said his rivals will definitely know she’s there.

Meanwhile his other Inter Dom hope Don Lou will go around in the Consolation (Race 3), where he has drawn gate five.

“He disappointed me in the third round when I was sure he’d be a winning chance,” he said.

“At his best this Inter Dom Consolation race would be well within his reach.”

For complete race entries, click here

by Michael Court, for HRNSW