Queenslander keen to shoot up Inter Dominion rankings

The connections and trainer of Kanena Provlima have Inter Dominion ranking positions in the back of their mind as they progress through harness racing’s 2021 TAB Queensland Summer Harness Season.

Prepared by Shawn Grimsey, Kanena Provlima ran a massive race last Saturday evening in the Group 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint getting within just over two metres of the winner at massive odds.

The bay gelding will look to go one better this coming weekend at Albion Park, this time in the Group 2 Queensland Cup.

When the first rankings were released for the 2021 Inter Dominion championships about six weeks ago, Kanena Provlima was ranked 81st in the pacing series – which became 73rd when the second set of rankings were revealed in late October.

Group 1 winning trainer Grimsey and owner Ben Settree, a mate of Grimsey’s who is based in Bathurst and a fellow trainer, hope to continue rising up the rankings.

Queensland pacers Colt Thirty One, Will The Wizard and Blacksadance were all rated above Kanena Provlima in the Inter Dominion rankings when they were released.

The Grimsey-trained pacer finished ahead of all three of those top QBREDs in last week’s Group 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint.

The first qualifying heats for the Inter Dominion will be run in late November at Menangle over 2400 metres.

“Ben was chasing a spot there, it would be good if he could get a spot in there,” Grimsey said of Kanena Provlima’s Inter Dominion chances.

“He thought if he sent him up to Queensland, that would help his chances of getting in there, just the way the races were set up instead of going to Menangle.

“They are having heats out at Bathurst so he was thinking if he was going to be in a series, this would be the one that suits best.

“He will run a race in the heats, he can keep up with the better horses.”

The A Rocknroll Dance gelding has only been in the Sunshine State for over a month but he has certainly made his mark in a short period of time, winning two on the bounce at the start of October as well as the gallant effort last Saturday.

“He was super, he went really good but he bumped into one better who was flying,” Grimsey said.

“The run did not surprise us, from barrier five you are just unsure where you are going to be.

“It panned out well but Mach Da Vinci was just a few metres too good.”

Mach Da Vinci has been installed as a short-priced favourite to make it two Queensland feature races in a row this Saturday evening.

Group 1-winning reinsman Nathan Dawson has been behind Kanena Provlima in his last three starts and will again be in the driver’s seat from barrier two on Saturday night, considered a $34 chance with the TAB in the race.

“I think the draw is ideal, he will be able to sit there in the running line as he has gate speed and will be able to hold his own easy,” Grimsey said.

“We cannot cross the one I do not think but he will just be getting out holding his spot and we will see how it unfolds from there.”

The Grimsey stable heads to Albion Park on Saturday evening with three chances for feature success, with impressive youngster Teddy Disco in the two-year-old race while Blissfull Lilly is set for the Group 2 Mares Open.

Barry Grimsey, Shawn’s father, bred Teddy Disco at his property and owns the exciting juvenile.

Teddy Disco went through the Redcliffe Yearling Sales before he was purchased back by Barry Grimsey.

Grimsey is interested to see how much speed will be on early in the two-year-old event, to be run over 1660 metres for $21,000.

The smart Teddy Disco, the winner of the Group 1 Garrards Yearling Sale Series for two-year-old pacers at Redcliffe earlier this year, already has seven victories from 10 career starts, with just over $120,000 in prize money already acquired.

“He is fabulous, he has been a real surprise packet,” Grimsey said.

“He is a quality horse; he is faultless really.

“He drives good, tries hard, has good manners and has good gate speed.”

With an excellent record as a two-year-old, Grimsey considered targeting the Breeders Challenge south of the border with Teddy Disco but opted to remain in the Sunshine State, where he is likely to stay at home and campaign for his three-year-old season, as well.

To view the fields for Albion Park on Saturday click here.

By Jordan Gerrans for Racing Queensland