In 1976 a young South Australian reinsman in Chris Lewis drove a brilliant, and some may say lucky, front running race on outsider Carclew to secure the Inter Dominion Championship.
The young horseman inherited the drive from his father Alan who was preparing Carclew’s half-sister Autumn Bright for an Inter Dominion tilt and gave Chris the seat behind the former during the carnival lead-up.
History shows Lewis became the youngest driver to hold aloft the winners trophy in his first experience at the Series.
Over thirty years later and two more South Australian reinsman get their chance at an Inter Dominion title in their first experience of the ultimate in Southern Hemisphere harness racing. In December both David Harding and Ryan Hryhorec were preparing to partner SA horses through to their respective Grand Finals, but through fortune and circumstance they both enter the final night of the carnival with hopes of an upset victory on Victorian-trained conveyances.
Harding’s start to the Inter Dominion series was one to forget. Driving Presido in the opening heat for his trainer-father Les and Kiwi owner Lew Driver, Harding’s debut in the sports holy grail ended with a disappointing last placing after missing the start and then breaking gait again on the home bend.
Despite two good performances when he returned home Presido missed the final, but Harding’s fortune turned when he secured the drive on Franco Heir for Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart when Brian Gath was suspended.
The states premier reinsman used his Globe Derby experience to land a heat win on the final night and squeeze Franco Heir into the final, while being rewarded for his efforts with the Grand Final steer.
Unlike Chris Lewis, 29-year-old Harding will not be able to lead and hold off his rivals. Drawn the outside of the second row, Franco Heir will start the rank outsider in the field and will not be able to take his favoured spot in front of the pack. Instead he will look for luck but in an Inter Dominion final anything can happen and the experience can only further Harding’s blossoming career.
In similar style, Hryhorec scored a spot in the Trotters Series at the very last chance when comeback squaregaiter Pats Victory landed one of the final positions. But the eight-year-old gelding was scratched from the opening heat and Hryhorec’s dream seemed over.
That was until a last minute call-up by Lara trainer Dean Braun to partner Motu Miss Anna from barrier one in the Inter Dominion Grand Final as regular pilot Chris Alford was obligated to drive third-favourite Glenbogle. Hryhorec has already driven the talented mare to a second-placing at Globe Derby in October when Braun bought her to SA.
In another similarity to Harding and Franco Heir, Motu Miss Anna will start as an outsider in a tough race, but the $26 chance will give her rivals something to chase and with a grandstand full of South Australians cheering her on you just never know.
