Inter Dominion pacers heats run and won

A home ground harness racing advantage came to the fore with Queensland trained pacers filling the placing in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Heat One at Albion Park. 

The heavily backed Future Assured (Always B Miki) ($1.90 fav) worked to the lead in blinding rain and gave nothing else a chance reeling off a 53.7 last 800 metres defeating Tommy Lincoln and Kanena Provlima in a slick mile rate of 1:51.9. 

FUTURE ASSURED REPLAY

The Michael Stanley trained Rock N Roll Doo made a three wide move in a 26.6 back straight quarter before weakening in the home stretch finishing seventh. 

The Jess Tubbs trained Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) served notice he will be one of the key players in the series with an authoritative win in the Heat Two. 

Greg Sugars took Better Eclipse off the gate at the start and allowed the son of Betterthancheddar time to balance up before working around to sit parked outside the leader Captain Shuffles with a lap to travel. 

Better Eclipse ($2.15 fav) levelled up with the leader around the home turn and gradually forged clear in the home straight accounting for local pacer Cassie Washington and Captain Shuffles in a mile rate of 1:51.5. 

BETTER ECLIPSE REPLAY

Series  favorite Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) enhanced his status as the horse to beat with a dominant performance in Heat Three. 

Sent out a $1.08 favorite, Leap To Fame was urged to the lead with a lap to travel by Grant Dixon who barely moved in the sulky down the home straight as the son of Bettors Delight cruised to the line in a mile rate of 1:51.0. 

LEAP TO FAME REPLAY

New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) chalked up his 10th consecutive win after outpointing his rivals in Heat Four. 

Local pacer Turn It Up showed his customary gate speed spearing to the front from his wide front row draw however Cameron Hart wasted little time in wresting back the front running on Swayzee with a lap to travel. 

Swayzee ($1.15 fav) ran his last 400 metres in 27.2 to defeat Manila Playboy and Turn It Up in the slowest of the four pacing heats returning a mile rate of 1:52.5. 

SWAYZEE REPLAY

Surprisingly, the win was trainer Jason Grimson’s first Inter Dominion heat win despite winning the past two Grand Finals with Boncel Benjamin and I Cast No Shadow. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink