IF there is such a thing as good karma, then David Moran deserves to win the Inter Dominion pacing final.
Moran, who drives favourite Honolua Bay in the final, is coming off a year he’d love to throw in the bin.
Wind the clock back 12 months when he snared the late pick-up drive on Expensive Ego and won the Sydney Inter Dominion final for 26 minutes … only to lose it on protest in the stewards’ room.
He’s still dirty on the decision which robbed him of his first win in the sport’s biggest race.
Moran then spent seven months sidelined by suspension before returning just to have his stable superstar, Lochinvar Art, have a “bleed” in a race at Melton and be sent to North American to continue his career. The $1.4 million-earner had put him on the map.
What kept a smile on his face all the way through was the thought of driving champion mare Ladies In Red.
Then the news came this week that she had broken a leg and would be sidelined for at least six months, maybe not even race again.
“Surely I’m due for something to go my way,” Moran said. “It’s certainly been a tough year on many fronts and hearing about Ladies In Red’s injury drove the nail in. She’s been my staple diet and amazing to drive.”
So, now it all comes down to Honolua Bay.
Owned and trained in the same interests as Ladies In Red, Honolua Bay has been the revelation of this Inter Dominion.
Widely regarded as a gifted but one-dimensional speedster, Honolua Bay was only the only unbeaten pacer through the three rounds of Inter Dominion qualifying heats.
“He’s my hope. He’s surprised me, in a good way. I’ve always loved his ability, but wasn’t sure he was the right sort of horse for an Inter Dominion series or whether he’d make a stayer,” Moran said.
“He’s gone to another level. He hasn’t just been winning, he’s been doing things I didn’t think he could do.
“I drove him terribly at Shepparton on the second night and he was still too good.”
Barrier two has seen Honolua Bay move into $2.90 favouritism for the final head of stablemate Act Now (gate three, $3).
“It’s a great draw and gives me lots of options,” Moran said. “He’s quick out and a good leader, but he’s also lethal with a sit on them.
“I’m not going in with any set plan, you can’t when there is so much speed on the front row, but I wouldn’t swap him for any other drive in the race.”
INTER DOMINION PACING FINAL SNAPSHOT
WHEN: 9.19pm Saturday night at Melton
DISTANCE: 2760m
THE EXPERTS SELECT
ADAM HAMILTON (News Corp)
3. Act Now
6. Expensive Ego
2. Honolua Bay
BRITTANY GRAHAM (Sky Racing)
3. Act Now
2. Honolua Bay
10. Zeuss Bromac
RYAN PHELAN (TrotsVision)
6. Expensive Ego
2. Honolua Bay
3. Act Now
THE MARKET
$2.90 Honolua Bay
$3 Act Now
$6.50 Expensive Ego
$10 Mach Dan
$14 Spirit Of St Louis, Bundoran
$15 I Cast No Shadow
$18 Narutac Prince
$26 Better Eclipse
$34 Zeuss Bromac
$71 Torrid Saint (emerg)
$151 Pete Said So
Odds: TAB
