Minstrel NZ - ID2024 - Heat 1 winner. Photo courtesy HRNSW. Photo by Brett Atkins
WHAT a difference a few days makes.
WA raiders, Team Bond and Deni Roberts, had gun draws with their two Inter Dominion raiders on night one, but the tide abruptly turned for night two at Bathurst.
“Thankfully with Minstrel we got maximum points on night one,” Greg Bond said. “It’s going to be a lot harder for him at Bathurst.”
Minstrel drew outside the front row (gate eight) in the sprint heats (1730m) of the series.
On the upside, zippy mare, My Moonlite Dream, looks the early leader and if Roberts keeps working forward on Minstrel, she must be a chance of finding the front.
It’s even worse for stablemate Tenzing Bromac, who ran much better than his eighth placing at Newcastle indicates. He drew outside the back row (12) in the second of the Bathurst heats.
“We just couldn’t take full advantage of the good draw he had at Newcastle and now he’s probably more of a consolation horse with a bad draw this time,” Bond conceded.
Queensland speedsters Blacksadance (gate one) and Jimartee (three) get their chance over a suitably short trip in the first Bathurst heat.
Captains Knock, who was superbly driven by Brad Hewitt to win at Newcastle, will have to overcome the back row (gate 10) in that first heat.
The draw looks kind for Nerano (inside back row, gate nine). He’s drawn to trail through behind likely leader Blacksadance and is usually very dangerous with that sort of trip.
District Attorney ruined his chances by galloping early at Newcastle, but gets his chance to resurrect his series from the pole in heat two at Bathurst.
Hardest to beat will be evergreen millionaire Max Delight (gate five), who ran a fantastic second after sitting outside the leader at Newcastle.
TAB Eureka winner Don Hugo was a shade disappointing when only fifth after leading at Newcastle, but will strip fitter and gets a nice draw (three) at Bathurst.
Curly James remains one of the favourites for the final after a sound second at Newcastle, but drew poorly (gate 12) at Bathurst.
In the trotting series, new final favourite, Queen Elida, who led throughout at Newcastle, gets another good draw (gate four) on night two.
Against that, talented and speedy Victorian, Keayang Chucky, has drawn directly inside her (three).
While the same heat is an early crunch time for highly rated London To A Brick, who galloped himself out of the race at Newcastle. He’s got the draw to atone (two).
The other major player in that heat and for the final is injury-plagued Victorian, Plymouth Chubb, who ran a slashing second at Newcastle. He has an inside back row draw (nine) at Bathurst.
Series big gun, The Locomotive, who led throughout at Newcastle, gets another great draw (four) in the second trotting heat at Bathurst.
It’s an important race for last year’s Grand Final runner-up Mufasa Metro (gate five), who only ran sixth after doing work on night one.
Aldebaran Vera has early speed and will run a race from the pole, Parisian Artiste (six) has claims and Royal Dan (gate nine) didn’t have any luck at a crucial time at Newcastle.
From Bathurst, the Inter Dominion heads to headquarters at Menangle for the last round of qualifying heats next Saturday night.
