THE $1million Inter Dominion Final at Perth’s Gloucester Park last Friday delivered a dream result to the WA harness industry with three WA trained and driven horses placing first, second and third in Australasian harness racing’s greatest race.
The winning performance from race favourite Im Themightyquinn ($1.90) was heralded as one of the finest in Inter Dominion after he came from last with 650 metres to run in the 2506 metre event.
The 18,000 strong on-course crowd erupted with thunderous app-lause for the seven year old gelding on witnessing his champion qualities. Perth reinsman Gary Hall (Jnr) under enormous pressure drove an unbelievably cool and calculated race.
With 350 metres to go the gelding’s closest supporters could have been forgiven for losing all hope as their pacer was still at the back of the main field and giving other world class pacers a big head start. His trainer, Gary Hall (Snr) was one of those who started to contemplate not winning at that point.
However, as seen often with true champions, they find a way to win and ‘Quinny’ was able to collar 2009 Bunbury Pacing Cup winner Mysta Magical Mach and reinsman Morgan Woodley in the final stages of the race with his trademark finishing sprint to register a remarkable win. One made all the more remarkable given he was seriously ill only 24 hours prior to the event.
Capel pacer Lombo Navigator ran the race of his life to clinch third place, 3.7 metres behind the winner. The Andrew De Campo trained gelding was given a sweet run by Matthew White behind the race leader Mr Feelgood (2009 Inter Dominion Champion) before working his way into the clear and coming on strong in the final stages to pocket $94,000 for his connections.
The Bunbury Trotting Club also conducted a race meeting last Friday to coincide with the Inter Dominion.
Local trainer Frank Bonnett in partnership with Busselton reinsman Aaron Beckett stole the show with the pair clocking up four wins on the program. Walkabout Adda (Race 4) provided them with their first win. Cyclone Mitch and Adda Tak followed in successive races before two year old filly Adda Rising Star registered her second win from as many starts in the last race.
Trainer/driver Stephen Reed was another of the locals to notch up a win when his pacer Uppy Son saluted in the third event.
Big And Smooth who was successful in the first race was the only favourite to win at the Bunbury meet. The mare provided young Aiden De Campo with one of his two driving wins with Sir Escapealot being the other in the seventh race. The remaining winner from the night was Castrato who won the second event.
