District Attorney. Photo by Dan Costello
IT was Inter Dominion final night three years ago at Menangle where Jason Grimson first really made his mark on the sport.
An upset win in the pacing final through a dramatic protest hearing and with a pacer most thought was washed-up (Boncel Benjamin), made everyone take notice.
What a three years it’s been since. A second Inter Dominion win (I Cast No Shadow in 2022), two iconic NZ Cups wins (Swayzee in 2023 and ’24), two Blacks A Fakes (Majestic Cruiser 2022 and Swayzee 2023) and Victoria Cup (Swayzee 2024) are just some of the major scalps.
Now Grimson, just 29, is chasing a third Inter Dominion pacing crown. Only four trainers have done that in their careers. Even the great Kiwi trainer Mark Purdon has only won three. Brian Hancock and Natalie Rasmussen share the record with five.
In the case of Hancock and Rasmussen they had one horse deliver the bulk of their wins, Our Sir Vancelot won three for Hancock and Blacks A Fake four for Rasmussen.
None of Grimson’s previous winners are back, so he’s trying to win it with a third horse, something only Hancock and Purdon have done.
And this series, which starts at Newcastle tonight, finishes back on Grimson’s home track, his playground, Menangle.
Despite his stable star Swayzee having a break and bypassing the series, Grimson will still have four pacers – Curly James, Nerano, District Attorney and Cya Art - and a trotter (Royal Dan) in this series.
“It’s hard to split my best three hopes, while Cya Art isn't quite up to them,” Grimson said. “None of mine can dominate, they’re all snipers, but then again, this series is nowhere near as strong as last year when Leap To Fame and Swayzee were there.”
“I’ll be disappointed if Curly James, Nerano and District Attorney don’t make the final. They are good enough to win it, too. But it’ll come down to who gets through the series best and has the luck on final night.”
“District Attorney is probably the all-round best, especially with his gate speed. He was sick last start, but he’s back where I need him.”
“Nerano loves the four races in a fortnight as you saw when he ran so well in a harder Brisbane series last year, while Curly James has peaked at the right time and smashed the clock at Albion Park last start.”
Grimson also has high hopes for his emerging trotter Royal Dan.
“With some stars missing from the trotting series as well, he'll come into it. He’s lightly-raced and has come a long way quickly for me,” he said.
“While the pacing series looks like a lottery, The Locomotive is clearly the one to beat in the trotters. He’s been terrific since joining Brad Hewitt’s stable.”
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
INTER DOMINION SNAPSHOT
DIARY
Tonight (Friday): Round 1 heats (Newcastle)
Wed, Dec 4: Round 2 heats (Bathurst)
Sat, Dec 7: Round 3 heats (Menangle)
Sat, Dec 14: Finals (Menangle)
THE BIG THREE
PACING SERIES
MINSTREL: The proven class act of the series. Fantastic win in the Gp1 WA Cup last start. Tough, seasoned, will relish the series, has young gun driver Deni Roberts aboard and a lovely draw (gate one) to kick-off the series tonight.
TACT MCLEOD: Emerging Kiwi who added plenty as a late entry. Big run in NZ Cup after missing the start then luckless fifth in NZ FFA last time. Also has elite big race driver Anthony Butt.
CURLY JAMES: Fits the “Jason Grimson” mould. Former handy pacer who has improved with Grimson, the trainer who has won two of the past three pacing finals with “cast offs”.
TROTTING SERIES
THE LOCOMOTIVE: Former star juvenile and five-time Group 1 winner who has looked fantastic since joining Brad Hewitt’s stable. Loves this track, has weapons and rates highly.
KEAYANG CHUCKY: Exciting Victorian on the rise at the right time. Versatile, has gate speed and the stable is on fire. Big chance in a series lacking standout star power.
LONDON TO A BRICK: Clashes with The Locomotive tonight. Another former top young trotter who has star potential. Been set for this since winning the Group 1 Queensland Trotters’ Cup in July. This trainer-driver Jimmy Rattray won two pacing finals at Menangle with Beautide.
THE MARKETS
PACERS
$4.80 Curly James
$5 Don Hugo, Tact McLeod
$5.50 Minstrel
$7 Captains Knock, Don Lou
$10 Max Delight
TROTTERS
$4 London To A Brick. The Locomotive
$5 Keayang Chucky
$9 Mufasa Metro, Parisian Artiste, Plymouth Chubb, Queen Elida
$11 Royal Dan
ODDS: TAB
