Star pacer Philadelphia Man with Gavin Lang in the sulky.
Victorian stars Lennytheshark and Philadelphia Man began their 2015 Inter Dominion campaign in flawless fashion last night at Gloucester Park.
Both were impressive winning their heats as the series kicked off in front of a big crowd.
Philadelphia Man (Art Major/My Liberty Belle) rated 1:53.8 (56.6 last 800m) to overhaul a gallant Avonnova in heat three for reinsman Gavin Lang, while Lennytheshark (Four Starzzz Shark/Botswana) rated 1:55.6 (55.6 last 800m) to beat Our Blackbird in heat two for Chris Alford.
TAB.com.au responded by reeling the two Victorians into clear favourite and second favourite for the December 13 $1.3million final, David Aiken-trained Lennytheshark into $2.3 fixed odds with Emma Stewart’s Philadelphia Man into $4.5.
The night’s other heat winner was Tasmanian star Devendra for Jimmy Rattray, who defeated Waylade by 6.7m in a rate of 1:55.1 (last 800m in 56.8).
Geoff Webster’s Flaming Flutter ran a big race for third behind Lennytheshark, leading and only going down by 3.9m, while stablemate Franco Ledger got well back in his heat and ran on fairly for sixth behind Philadelphia Man.
The other Victorians in the Inter Dom heats were Cold Major (eighth in heat three) and Major Crocker and Five Star Anvil (seventh and ninth in heat two).
It was a good night overall for the Vics with former locally based Gotta Go Yanky (American Ideal/Armbro Ice) taking out the first heat of the Westral Binshaw Qualifying series for Ross Olivieri at big odds ($17.5). The six-year-old is raced by recently crowned Victorian Owners of the Year Merv and Meg Butterworth.
Victorian Horse of the Year Menin Gate couldn’t overcome a barrier 12 draw in the Del Basso Smallgoods 4YO Championship finishing fifth behind Bettor Reward, who scored at blow-out odds ($33.7) to defeat local WA star Beadiene Boaz ($1.7) by 9.6m in 1:56.6.
>> 2015 Perth Inter Dominion Website
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