Interdom 2021

[Messenger]

First noms, 103 pacer and 64 trotters

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/inter-dominion-nominations-revealed-as-167-chase-id21-dreams/

[Showgrounds]

It will be interesting by final acceptances because connections of several nominated pacers are concerned by having to travel to Bathurst and Newcastle for heats. It's not the four starts in a fortnight but the hours on the road for the horses is an unnecessary burden. Should Covid still be an issue interstate and NZ horses, presuming they can trave, will likely have to quarantine at Menangle. I wouldn't fancy a drive from Menangle to Newcastle and back.

[Messenger]

First rankings

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/id21-rankings-the-king-and-tornado-top-the-pops-for-id21/

[Messenger]

https://harnesslink.com/australia/inter-dominion-series-to-proceed-as-planned/

Interdom to proceed as planned

[Messenger]

Second Rankings

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=50177

A few moves of note:

Max Delight 13 - 2nd
Alta Orlando 17 - 11
Bad To The Bone 27 - 15
Burnham Boy 45 - 24
Majestic Cruiser 35 - 25
Spirit Of St Louis 43 - 32

Sirletic and Perfect Stride have blown out while Amazing Dream and Stylish Memphis are scratchings

[Messenger]

I know it is not relevant to Interdom 21 but I will plonk this big news here

Queensland will replace New Zealand in the Inter Dominion rotation ....... citing financial uncertainty and a lack of Open Class horses in the country.

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/new-zealand-bows-out-of-inter-dominion/

[Messenger]

PP is today asking what the Kiwis are up to
saying that HRNZ is a very sound organization with excellent finances and he also refutes that there is a lack of open class horses in NZ
As he rightly points out - you cannot have an Inter Dominion with only one dominion

[aussiebreno]

PP is today asking what the Kiwis are up to
saying that HRNZ is a very sound organization with excellent finances and he also refutes that there is a lack of open class horses in NZ
As he rightly points out - you cannot have an Inter Dominion with only one dominion

Bloke has 0 credibility.

[Messenger]

Forgetting credibility Breno - can you have an Inter Dominion with only one dominion?

[Showgrounds]

My own thoughts are HRNZ has jettisoned the Inter-Dominion in order to prop up its own deficiencies. Stakemoney for the Auckland Cup has steadily fallen down to $200k for this season's edition (won by Amazing Dream) but is now slated for late May as $400k. The Invercargill Cup has doubled to $100k and the unique and I believe, highly successful Harness Jewels meeting has disappeared completely.

What made the Jewels unique was the nine races were all invitations. The industry, as a whole, has become drunk on futurities as a means of boasting about good stake money. That is fools gold; the horse owners are largely funding the higher stakes. The Jewels actually rewarded owners and was basically grand finals for 2, 3 and 4 year-olds of there sex and gait. Field selection was based on stake earnings. As yet I am unaware of the thinking behind the decision to sack the Jewels.

Here is a hint - this year's Jewels races were dropped from $150k to $100k each after years at the higher amount. That $450,000 saving is only $50,000 short of the stake for this year's Inter-Dominion final.

I see some serious shuffling of the deck chairs being conducted by HRNZ, mainly to prop up an ailing industry on the North Island.

[Messenger]

Andy Gath withdraws team from Inter Dominion series

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/andy-withdraws-team-from-inter-dominion-series/

[Messenger]

The final rankings

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=50447

A confession - I rarely follow non Victorian harness racing
At number 5 in the rankings is Father Bob
I have never heard of him

[Messenger]

Final Acceptances

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=50493

It has to be the weakest of all time
San Carlo is rising 11 and has not won a race for over 2yrs other than one at Mildura 22 mths ago where he beat nothing (nor the 2min barrier) - he is entitled to retirement and yet he is Ranked 11

[Messenger]

The draws if anyone is interested

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/it-begins-draws-revealed-for-the-first-steps-to-id21-glory/

Much easier to read here

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC271121

[Messenger]

:eek: Gentleman Sir is the first emergency for the Trotters Inter!
He did win a race at Ararat 12mths ago and 20mths before that won at Melton

[Showgrounds]

There is more depth in a toddler's wading pool. This series is not worthy of being called an Inter-Dominion. Largely driven by the uncertainty of COVID politics but running the series all over the countryside for so-so stakes are also big detractors.

[Mighty Atom]

Absolute disgrace that the once showpiece of the Australia/New Zealand harness racing calendar is going around the track for a mere $30.000 in this day and age.

[Messenger]

Malcolms Rhythm's nose prevents a McCarthy clean sweep

[Messenger]

I know that for Pink Galahs last Melton win, she sat in the death but I think Matty Craven has to erase that from his mind. It is one thing to select the death rather than be 4 fence but why would he pour on the pressure so far out instead of waiting, waiting and waiting some more to use her turn of foot.

[Messenger]

It is all about making the final so the only major losers on night one were:

Ignatius 9th
Robyns Playboy 12th
The Black Prince 9th

Funky Monkey 9th
Aldebaran Crescent 11th

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC271121

[Messenger]

The fields for Bathurst heats on Wednesday

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BH011221

The pacers I mentioned above, guilty of not securing many first round points, have all drawn well
McCarthy stable runners are favourites for all three heats

[Yabbie]

It is all about making the final so the only major losers on night one were:

Ignatius 9th
Robyns Playboy 12th
The Black Prince 9th

Funky Monkey 9th
Aldebaran Crescent 11th

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC271121

Aldebaran Crescent possibly out - she was on a drip yesterday. Awaiting vet outcome - Poor girl

[Messenger]

All 3 pacing heats to the McCarthy stable despite all 3 spending considerable time 3 wide
Watch Expensive Ego's track record and you will think how could he possibly

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BH011221

[Messenger]

Matty Craven again determined to drive Pink Galahs as if she is an iron horse trying to tell Chris Alford the death was not there for him

ps Can someone please fix the sound on the other trotting heat

[Messenger]

Sunday's heats at Newcastle
Apart from Malcolm and Alta O all the big names have drawn well. I reckon a few will be looking for a cruisy race - I think King Of Swing could do with an easy race

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=NR051221#NRC05122108

[Messenger]

Heat 9 at Newcastle tonight could well prove interesting
With 3 scratchings the task of some becomes easier, at least on paper

Expensive Ego was always going to be able to run last and qualify regardless the field size
and the same is definitely true for Malcolms Rhythm and Majestic Cruiser now
Bundooran 15 points (not in Heat 9) is the cutoff for the final at present

Mach Dan 14, Pocket Of Terror 14, Our Uncle Sam 13, and Ignatius 12 all in Heat 9
might get into the final by running a place
Bundooran however has drawn beautifully in 1 in his heat and The Black Prince who is equal to him on points has a handy draw (4) in his heat, so it is not going to be a given

Points Table:

https://hrnsw.com.au/news/3019/id21-points-table-after-round-two

Fields:

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=NR051221

[Messenger]

Bundoran wins the first of tonight's heats so the hopefuls, yet to qualify, will now find it quite a bit harder to make it as they were already a further 2pts behind Loorrim Lake (17pts) who is their new target to pass - I didn't see where he finished but official results will be up shortly and we will have a new 'minimum to make it'

23 pts needed to pass Loorrim Lake

[Messenger]

Mach Dan 14pts and Pocket Of Terror 14pts need 4th or better

[Messenger]

If you have a TAB account, Sky Central on the TAB ap have continuous Newcastle coverage

ps The audio for the actual race calls is Atrocious

[Messenger]

The Black Prince has gone to 24 points and in the top 12 right now

Greg Sugars has done a brilliant job of nursing Triple Eight through the qualifiers with minimum exertion

[Messenger]

So far a full 2 seconds has been knocked off the Newcastle 2030m Tk Rec

[Messenger]

Yep on my calculations, Loorrim Lake is out of the final

[Messenger]

12 make the final don't they??????
They are talking about needing high 20's to make it and Pocket Of Terror and Mach Dan needing 1st or 2nd but 3rd will do it

[Messenger]

The photo for 2nd means everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Messenger]

Our Uncle Sam 26 pts is the one who gets in

[Messenger]

Massive embarrassing audio problems (with interviews) still

[Messenger]

These guys are hopeless - might need to hire me :) to do their pts

[Messenger]

Does NSW have the same 'trot over the line or be relegated behind overlapping horses' rule or not?
I thought Brittany was on the money and Aldebaran Crescent had to be relegated

[Messenger]

Crazy NSW seem to be the only one without that relegation rule. It has cost Humble Ladd who was 12th on the points table before this heat, 1 pt ahead of Aldebaran Crescent and could have stayed ahead but is now 1pt behind

[Messenger]

Last heat coming up and Gil Favor or Empire Bay can still knock Aldebaran out with a 4th or 5th respectively
Illawong Stardust only needs 6th

[Messenger]

Illawong Stardust has made it

[Messenger]

Where did One Majic Kenny finish - he needed 7th to stay in the top 12

[Messenger]

Crazy NSW seem to be the only one without that relegation rule. It has cost Humble Ladd who was 12th on the points table before this heat, 1 pt ahead of Aldebaran Crescent and could have stayed ahead but is now 1pt behind

Teach me to have 'tickets on myself' - Aldebaran was 3pts behind Humble Ladd so he still stayed a pt behind

[Messenger]

So does the King go into 9 when the emergencies come out or is he inside second line on Ego's back?
It is the latter isn't it?

[Messenger]

The trotters

[Messenger]

Am I right in thinking that the three fastest off the front line are going to be coming from the three widest alleys after the emergencies come out
7 Boncel Benjamin, 8 Alta Orlando, 9 Max Delight and with them being alongside each other has to be an even bigger advantage to Boncel Ben

[aussiebreno]

It will 6 off the front and 6 off the back.

Humble Ladd drawing 8 is ridiculous. Should have been 14 as ODM.

[Messenger]

I thought it was a 10 off the front track but I am now guessing that is only for mile racing. I can't say I understand the inconsistency and should be outlined in their track details page

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/tracks/tabcorp-park-menangle/

Oh well that leaves only Boncel as the most likely speedster to cross Ego

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC111221#PCM11122101

[aussiebreno]

It is a 10 off the front track. Special conditions for Inter only 8 off front and 4 off back to be uniform with Bathurst for heats and finals.

[Messenger]

Thanks Breno
Somewhat bewildered nevertheless - are they putting in a sprint lane because Bathurst has one

[Messenger]

Are we excited ?!

[Messenger]

In the Carousel Final, Greg Sugars shows how much better a driver he is compared to Matty Craven

[Messenger]

Wow. David Moran definitely shut the gate but had Josh fractionally before decided to go to the outside anyway

[Messenger]

Protest audio is hopeless with them wearing masks (especially for a deaf coot)

[Messenger]

It is hard to tell but there is no denying that Ego altered its line so I think Benjamin gets it

[Messenger]

It did almost seem that the chief steward was a little biased toward the winner in that Jason Grimson was not allowed to approach the screen and yet David Moran was.
They really wish they did not have to make this decision
Stewards have never upheld an ID final protest

[Messenger]

Thank God they just followed the rules

[Showgrounds]

Thank God they just followed the rules

Correct decision. Very impressed by Josh Gallagher in the room, most drivers his age might have been overawed by the occasion. He was straight upfront with his grounds for protest and gently kneed Moran under the wheels of the bus each time he made a point. Grimson nearly lost it and interrupted too often. Behind McCarthy said all she possibly could which was nothing of value under the circumstances. That left Moran to defend his actions and try to convince the stewards what they were watching on the big screens didn't happen. It reminded me of the scene in the Blues Brothers when Jake finally came face to face with his ex-fiance (Carrie Fisher).

Luckily for Jake, Carrie was a crook shot. Unluckily for David Moran and Expensive Ego's connections the NSW stewards panel was compiled of crack shots. They were large targets at close range and they did not waste a bullet. It is easy to criticise stewards and I have, mainly through what I perceive as inaction or inattentiveness. Not tonight, they were spot on.

And what of Boncel Benjamin? He becomes the most "ordinary" ID CHAMPION since Rhett's Law won in Perth in 1982. Hearty congratulations to his owner Julie Duffy.

[Messenger]

Max Delight was bolting (esp down the back) and something would appear to be amiss with Triple Eight

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC111221#PCM11122101

[Messenger]

Ol Peter Profit is claiming that Josh Gallagher 'hocked' BB. His left leg is moving but I cannot see where his foot is

[Mighty Atom]

Protest audio is hopeless with them wearing masks (especially for a deaf coot)

I watched the ID on sky central racing. The protest explanations in the stewards' room were difficult to hear so I had subtitles on. What a laugh apart from being about 5 words behind everything that was being said the words appearing on the screen was hilarious it would have made more sense if it was in a foreign language.

[Messenger]

This deaf coot didn't even know they had captions but those automatic/voice recognition ones are hopeless at the best of times and what with the masks and muffled voices, I can just imagine how bad they were

[PremiumEdition]

Can some answer my query, why is it that the 3 McCarthy topliners, King of Swing, Expensive Ego and St Louis never got to draw against each other in a heat, over past years I have seen heat winner clash but it seems that this was an exception ? any thoughts please.

[Messenger]

I hope Breno tunes in for us Bob as he will know. They were no doubt separated, I am assuming it was a stable thing (but could have been rankings). I am not talking Inter but in the past in Vic, there has been heat series where a stables runners are split evenly

There isn't anything in the Conditions

http://www.harness.org.au/index.cfm?p=f&id=/inter/id.htm

Click on the Pacing Conditions link found in the middle column

[Showgrounds]

Can some answer my query, why is it that the 3 McCarthy topliners, King of Swing, Expensive Ego and St Louis never got to draw against each other in a heat, over past years I have seen heat winner clash but it seems that this was an exception ? any thoughts please.

The series was held in NSW. Level playing field in NSW, you understand.

[Yabbie]

Max Delight was bolting (esp down the back) and something would appear to be amiss with Triple Eight

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC111221#PCM11122101

I heard from the stable yesterday 888 is fine, just a very tired horse. Glad there is nothing major

[Messenger]

PP is asking why the Interdom series prizemoney is yet to be paid

[Showgrounds]

PP would not be the only one asking why they have not been paid but I'd suggest some might be too nervous to ask. For fear of being told the reason.