Hometown hero Im Themightyquinn has drawn barrier 4 in the fourth heat
The countdown continues to the start of Australasia’s greatest harness racing series, the 2012 V75 Inter Dominion Championship with the declaration of fields for the opening round Heats at Gloucester Park this Friday night.
All interstate and overseas horses have now arrived in Perth, after Smoken Up arrived early last week and Auckland Reactor jetted in to the West on Saturday morning, with both pacers reported to have settled in well.
Four $60,000 Heats of nine runners, all starting on the front line over the short course 1700 metres will see sparks flying right from the word ‘go’ when the Championship formally gets under way.
The series kicks off with the locally owned Washakie clashing with boom New Zealander, Auckland Reactor and Breeders Crown champion, David Hercules.
RACE 2 6:33 (WAST)
$60,000 Retravision INTER DOMINION HEAT 1. 1700m. MS.
1- ALZONA, Matthew White
2- WASHAKIE NZ, John McCarthy
3- AUCKLAND REACTOR NZ, Anthony Butt
4- WRONGLY ACCUSED, Morgan Woodley
5- TSUNAMI LOMBO, Chris Lewis
6- SNEAKYN DOWN UNDER NZ, Darren Duffy
7- RAKAREBEL NZ, Gary Hall (Jnr)
8- DAVID HERCULES, Mark Reed
9- RUSSLEY RASCAL NZ, Colin Brown
Mr Feelgood, with John McCarthy is the sulky, is the headline performer of Heat 2, where the 2009 Inter Dominion winner will take on New Zealand star Raglan and impressive last start winner Mysta Magical Mach.
RACE 4 7:35
$60,000 SEW-Eurodrive INTER DOMINION HEAT 2. 1700m. MS.
1- ROCKET REIGN NZ, Shannon Suvaljko
2- OHOKA DU NORD NZ, Grant Williams
3- SCAN AIR, Gary Jones
4- CAN RETURN FIRE NZ, Colin Brown
5- RAGLAN NZ, Anthony Butt
6- MOTU TREASURE NZ, Kim Prentice
7- MYSTA MAGICAL MACH NZ, Morgan Woodley
8- MR FEELGOOD USA, John McCarthy
9- CROMBIE, Grant Williams
Heat 3 has Australia’s fastest pacer Smoken Up, fresh from his last start track record breaking performance at Tabcorp Park Melton pitted against the SEW-Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup runner-up, Dasher VC and two of the more heavily supported runners of the series, Saucy Legend and Cromac Johnny. ‘Sydneysider’ Hesa Buzzin will have to contend with the visitor’s draw of barrier nine.
RACE 6 8:30
$60,000 Yes Loans INTER DOMINION HEAT 3. 1700m. MS.
1- SAUCY LEGEND NZ, Gary Hall (Jnr)
2- CROMAC JOHNNY NZ, Grant Williams
3- HY ROYALE, Murray Lindau
4- BUS TO HARLAND, Shannon Suvaljko
5- EASTWOOD FIRE NZ, Colin Brown
6- PABLITO NZ, Kim Prentice
7- SMOKEN UP NZ, John Justice
8- DASHER VC NZ, Chris Lewis
9- HESA BUZZIN, Jim Douglass
WA fans will be waiting with baited breath the appearance of series favourite and local superstar, Im Themightyquinn in the final heat when he clashes with another local cult hero and likely race leader, Has The Answers and former champion juvenile Lombo Pocket Watch. Rising star Lightning Raider for Greg and Skye Bond are also in the final Heat of the night.
RACE 8 9:30
$60,000 Schweppes INTER DOMINION HEAT 4. 1700m. MS.
1- HAS THE ANSWERS, Shannon Suvaljko
2- SON OF FERGIE, Justin Prentice
3- LOMBO NAVIGATOR, Matthew White
4- IM THEMIGHTYQUINN NZ, Gary Hall (Jnr)
5- LITTLE SONNY BILL NZ, Kyle Harper
6- LOMBO POCKET WATCH, Chris Lewis
7- ARTORIUS, Michael George (C)
8- LIGHTNING RAIDER NZ, Colin Brown
9- FAST PLAY, Chris Voak
The first race on Friday night’s massive 11 race card is scheduled for 6.03pm (WAST), with the historic Gloucester Park gates opening at 4pm. The heats are scheduled for races two (2), four (4), six (6) and eight (8) along with a bumper support program which also contains the final of the $50,000 San Simeon Championship and heats of the $50,000 Binshaw Championship.
There will also be plenty of action off the track, including live music throughout the night and Aussie rock Legend Darryl Braithwaite will perform on the main stage after the last race.
