Lenny and Beau dominate TAB Fixed Odds

Those who backed Victorian harness racing star Lennytheshark when Inter Dominion markets first opened will be happy with themselves.

A stylish winner of his heat at Tabcorp Park Melton last night, Lennytheshark is expected to play a major role in the Final.

The $750,000 TAB.com.au decider is scheduled to be run at Menangle on March 1.

Posted at $8 on the original TAB Fixed Odds Market, the David Aiken-trained stallion drifted to $10 before his racing return at Shepparton on January 24.

Lennytheshark is now the second elect at $3.

Defending champion Beautide is listed at $2.10 in his bid to become just the sixth pacer to retain his title.

Hondo Grattan was the ground breaker in 1973 and ’74, followed by Gammalite in ’83 and ’84, Our Sir Vancelot in 1997, ’98 and ’99, Blacks A Fake in 2006, ’07 and ’08 and Im Themightyquinn in 2011, ’12 and ’13.

Opening at $4.20, Beautide drifted to $6 before dropping to $3.40 when Christen Me was scratched from the series before last night’s Supplementary heat at Menangle.

Following his effortless qualifier victory, Beautide was cut to $2.40, with solid support seeing his quote dropped to $2.10.

TAB’s Adam Hamilton believes a favourable draw could see the son of Bettors Delight start an odds-on favourite.

 “I think he’ll continue to shorter between now and the draw on Saturday night,” Hamilton said. “He’ll start odds-on regardless of draw, but could be as short as $1.60, or even $1.50, with an ideal barrier.

“He looked right back to his best in the heat, will be even better for just his second run in 11 weeks and the step from 2400 to 3009 metres in the Final suits him far better than any of his rivals.”

The shortest-priced favourite in recent times was Elsu, which paid a meagre $1.55 in 2005.

• PAUL COURTS