Ask any harness racing participant what race they want to win; most will answer the Inter Dominion, a race full of history, prestige and tradition.
This year’s series commences at Brisbane’s Albion Park on Friday night, where Kosimo will be the sole Tasmanian representative, fulfilling a lifelong dream for his owner and former trainer, Mark Jones.
Jones, a 64-year-old hobby trainer from Sidmouth (north of Launceston), has trained 97 winners with his involvement in the sport, with his biggest training win being the $20,000 Jane Ellen Final with Biglittlesis, one of his main highlights among his three King Island Cup’s, where he was based for several years.
“I will never have another one in it. I have waited 40 years now to get one good enough to be in it, and I won’t be waiting another 40,” said Jones.
Kosimo tested the patience of several people as a young horse before being purchased by Jones.
“I never thought he would make an Inter Dominion as a young horse, but he has got better and stronger each year.
“I thought we would nominate him and see what happens, and he came in at 33 (in the rankings) and got in,” said the owner.
Kosimo was placed in three of his first five starts before being sent for a spell. But Tasmania was the only Australian state to cease racing during the COVID-19 lockdowns for just over two months in 2020.
It was during this time Jones sent the pacer to Victoria, where he won first up at Bendigo in 1:55.5s in what was a two-start campaign.
He returned to Tasmania and raced through the ratings before returning to Victoria, where he raced consistently at the metropolitan level.
“I brought him home and gave him a month off over winter, and that was the plan with the Inter in mind,” Jones recalled.
Jones has sent the pacer to Queensland trainer Darrel Graham for the Inter Dominion.
“Darrel sent a video of his work on Tuesday and was very happy with him.
“I’m hoping he can make the final. It will depend on his draws,” said the owner.
The final field for the $530,000 Grand Final on 16 December will be determined by points across three rounds of heats, with round two to be held on Tuesday evening before the third round on Saturday, 9 December.
“The (three heats in eight days) won’t worry him, and the longer the heats get, the better as well.
“He isn’t far behind (the best in Victoria). He ran third in a $50,000 race in January, and if he gets the right run, he will chase the speed all day.
“He follows Swayzee out (in Friday’s first heat), and we will see what happens, but the 1660m will be his toughest test, but in saying that, he has gone 1:53.0s at Melton,” said Jones, who will stay in Tasmania with two runners engaged at the Launceston meeting on Sunday before he makes the trip to Brisbane for the second and third round of heats.
“Some people have told me he shouldn’t be there, but I think he will be competitive,” added Jones.
The last Tasmanian-bred pacer to make an Inter Dominion Grand Final field was Devendra in 2015, one of nine Tasmanian-bred pacers who have contested the series over the past 10 years, including two time winner Beautide.
