Tubbs confirms Inter Dominion plan with star mare

JESS Tubbs has opted to tackle the Inter Dominion with star harness racing mare Rakero Rebel (Rock N Roll Heaven) which gives her two runners in the series starting at Albion Park on Saturday week.

Rakero Rebel with stablemate and proven Grand Circuit performer, Better Eclipse, on the road to Brisbane on Monday.

The last time Tubbs tackled a Brisbane Inter Dominion, she had Better Eclipse win two heats, finish second in another and then run second to Leap To Fame in the Grand Final in late 2023.

“I’ve been chasing my tail a bit with him (Better Eclipse) this time because I needed to give him a freshen-up at an awkward time when he wasn’t quite himself in a couple of races,” she said.

“But he seems well again now and trialled well at Geelong on Monday.

“He’ll go into the series fresh and we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Better Eclipse is already a Group 1 winner at Albion Park, having the Sunshine Sprint as a four-year-old in 2022.

He had three runs this campaign at Melton in April/May, but performed below his best.

Tubbs said running Rakero Rebel in the Inter Dominion kept all options open.

“She’s been very competitive against the boys at home and if she doesn’t make the Inter Dominion final, I’ve still got the option of putting her back against the mares in the (Group 1) Golden Girl on final night,” she said.

Rakero Rebel, a winner of 16 races, is yet to race at Albion Park, but boasts a strong record in six starts “on the road” at Menangle.

Most recently, she ran third to Eye Keep Smiling and Steno in Australia’s biggest mares’ race, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile, at Menangle on May 10.

Eye Keep Smiling and Steno are the two favourites for the Golden Girl.

James Herbertson will do the stable driver for Tubbs in Queensland, where he will also represent Victoria in the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia