Controversial wildcard in Inter Dominion Final

Harness racing is never short of a bit of controversy at the best of times, but the Inter Dominion always seems to raise the bar several notches.

This year the decision by the selection committee to give Blazin N Cullen a wildcard over Franco Ledger for this year's Final at Menangle defies logic and reason.

As you will see from the comparison we will do below, there is a wide gap in performance between the two horses in both their overall record and recent form.

Blazin N Cullen – Lifetime record – Starts – 54 – Wins 15 – Seconds – 8 – Thirds – 7 – Stakes $196,672

This season Blazin N Cullen has had twelve starts before last night for for two wins and two placings and $62,240 in stakes.

He has had two runs in Group One company for a fourth in the Queensland Pacing Championship and a seventh in the Cordina Sprint.

He has had two runs in Group Two company for a second in the $75,000 Gold Coast Cup and a ninth in the Kevin Newman Cup.

He has had four runs in Group Three company for a win in the $30,000 Vic Frost Cup, two fifths and a sixth.

Last night in what was a very poor quality field with the favouite an out of form Terror To Love, Blazin N Cullen, ran home well for fourth after doing no work in the run.

This season in his 13 runs he has only finished in front of two of the 13 horses he will face on Final Day and they are For A Reason and Ultimate Art.

Blazin N Cullen's last six runs including last nights run read as follows:

Fourth  –  Fifth  –  First  –  Fifth  –  Fifth  –  Fourth

Franco Ledger – Lifetime record – Starts – 73 – Wins – 22 – Seconds – 11 – Thirds – 6 – Stakes $544,438

This season Franco Ledger has had 12 starts before last night in New Zealand/Australia for three wins and two placings and $160,079 in stakes.

He has had five runs in Group One company for a eighth in the New Zealand Cup, a ninth in the New Zealand Free For All, a fifth in the South Australian Cup, an eleventh in the Victoria Cup and a second in the Hunter Cup.

He has had four runs in Group Two company for an eleventh in the Canterbury Classic, an eighth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, a second in the $50,000 Kaikoura Cup to Arden Rooney and a win in the $50,000 Shepparton Cup

He has had two runs in Group Three company for a sixth in the Hannon Memorial and a win in the $35,000 Methven Cup over Jimmy Johnstone and Smolda.

Last night Franco Ledger was last at the half mile and ran home three and four wide in 54.6 (TImed off Video) to finish fifth beaten five metres.

In our opinion it was the run of the race to finish that close from where he was in the running.

This season in his 13 runs he has finished in front of six of the horses who have made the Final in For A Reason, Lennytheshark, Terror To Love, Easy On The Eye, Flaming Flutter, and I'm Corzin Terror.

Franco Ledger's last six runs including last nights run read as follows:

First – Fifth – First – Eleventh – Second – Fifth

Overview

The one thing that is obvious from the statistics above is that Franco Ledger has been racing at the highest level in Australasia all season.

Most of  his New Zealand runs were against the like of Christen Me, Adore Me, Terror To Love and For A Reason and he has faced the best in both the Hunter and Victoria Cups.

The only horse that he has not beaten home of all the top group one performers in Australasia is Beautide.

Every other top liner you could name Franco Ledger has beaten at some stage.

Blazin N Cullen hasn't raced at anything like that level for most of his career as his form above shows and this season alone he has earned nearly $100,000 less than Franco Ledger.

The bookmakers were quick to show what they thought on the matter with Blazin N Cullen who is in the field a $51 chance while Franco Ledger who is only the Emergency is a $21 chance.

On what basis they included Blazin N Cullen in the Final as a wildcard only the selection panel knows, but it is a decision that is impossible to justify on their respective performances this season.

JC