New Zealand’s raiders had a varied start to the Inter Dominion carnival at Albion Park, with two wins, a strong runner-up performance, and a few who’ll be looking to bounce back on night two.
Mixed night for Kiwi trotters at Inter Dominion opener
It was a tale of two very different stories for New Zealand’s two trotting stars on Inter Dominion opening night at Albion Park.
The shock came when millionaire veteran Oscar Bonavena was bailed up in traffic and only finished seventh in the first trotting heat.
Driver Adam Sanderson put his hand-up and admitted he made a mistake by staying in when he could have started a threw-wide sprint.
Oscar Bonavena will now need at least a top three finish in the second (and last) round of heats to make the $500,000 final on July 19.
If there is an upside, co-trainer Mark Purdon said the nine-year-old was in fantastic order.
“He’s really, really well and Adam (Sanderson) said he was bolting with nowhere to go,” he said.
The other shock of the first heat was an early gallop from favourite London To A Brick, which saw him tail-out and probably lose all hope of qualifying for the final.
The heat was won by the rejuvenated leader Golden Sunset, with the erratic but highly-talented Gus running a huge second.
Trotting heat two was a much better story for the Kiwis with young star Bet N Win leading throughout for an easy win.
“It’s great to get that one out of the way,” co-trainer David White said.
Driver Bob Butt added: “He did really well, did it easily.”
Victorian star Arcee Phoenix lost no fans with a terrific third after sustaining a long three-wide from well back in the last lap.
Leap To Fame all class as Pinseeker impresses
Champion pacer Leap To Fame underlined why is the most dominant Inter Dominion favourite in history when he thrashed his rivals in the fastest heat of opening night at Albion Park.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon took bad luck out of the equation when he snagged out to last from inside the back row (gate eight) and quickly launched a three-wide around the field.
Kiwi raider Pinseeker worked to the lead from gate two, but was happy to take a sit on Leap To Fame when he drew alongside after 800m.
It was a procession, albeit a fast one, from there.
Leap To Fame ran his last mile in 1min51.9sec sec with closing splits of 53.3 and 26.2sec to win by 9.2m over Pinseeker with old marvels Petes Said So third and Max Delight fourth.
“He did that really well,” Dixon said. “I was really pleased how comfortable he felt.”
Trainer-driver Jonny Cox was delighted with Pinseeker’s run.
“Thrilled. He went great, but the winner is just something else. We were running a 28.5sec first quarter and he just marched on by, as easy as you like,” he said.
Another brilliant Luke McCarthy drive helped Don Hugo win his heat comfortably.
The race changed through the middle stages when McCarthy made a move around the field to park outside the leader, but was able to slot into a perfect one-one trail on the back of main danger Captains Knock.
The pair drew away to fight it out with Don Hugo scoring by 1.3m in a 1min52.4sc mile rate, 0.9sec faster than the opening heat.
“I like driving him with a sit but we don’t get many chances. We had a bit of luck in running and he did that really easily at the finish,” McCarthy said.
“It was three weeks between runs, so he’ll take a lot of benefit out of it. I’m already looking forward to next week.”
Hewitt was thrilled with Captains Knock’s run.
“That’s more like him. His work said he’d bounce back and he did. Bring on night two.”
Popular Queensland trainer Shannon Price made an early impact when he “work in progress” pacer Sure Thing Captain brilliantly won last night’s first heat.
The five-year-old worked to the front from gate four, dictated terms and blasted home in 53.7 and 26.5sec to win by 6.7m over the eye-catching Catch A Wave, who ran own last half in 53.1sec.
“He’s a good horse, this one, with so much speed, but he’s taking time to put it all together. Tonight was a great sign,” Price said.
Captains Mistress cruises in Rising Sun consolation
Connections of star Kiwi filly Captains Mistress were left wondering what might have been after her stunning Albion Park win last night.
To the shock of many, the filly was snubbed for a start in the main event, the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun, leaving to her tackle and easily win the $53,040 consolation.
The snubbing wasn’t lost on her Kiwi trainer and driver Nathan Williamson after the win.
“Do you think we’ll get a start in the Queensland Oaks now?” he laughed.
Captains Mistress stretched her unbeaten Queensland raid to three wins when she showed sparkling gate speed to easily hold the lead from the pole and never looked in danger.
Williamson “pinched” a cosy 61.4sec middle half then scorched home in 53.8 and 26.4sec to win by five metres over a gallant Attachment, who sat parked a fought on well for second in a 1min54.3sec mile rate for 2138m.
Captains Mistress heads to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks on July 19 for caretaker trainer Grant Dixon before returning home to rejoin Williamson.
“She’s got a big spring back home after this,” he said. “That’s the first time she’s been asked to really leave the gate like that and she did it well. It’s a great sign for the future.”
No luck for Kiwi pair in Rising Sun showdown
IT wasn’t to be for the two Kiwis in the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun.
Both three-year-old Rubira and four-year-old Betterthancash settled well back in a slowly run race and couldn’t get into it, finishing seventh and 11th.
Fate Awaits created history as the first three-year-old to win the race after a dream run behind the leader.
Trained by Grant Dixon and driven by wife, Trista, Fate Awaits dashed through the sprint lane to beat favourite The Janitor.