Ladbrokes ID23 - Round 1 Recap The Larry And Harry Show

02 December 2023 | Darren Clayton (The Creek)
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Night one of the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion went mostly to script, the only upset coming with the defeat of Queen Elida in a trotting heat.

The opening heat was claimed by the Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar trained Ollivici after a wining move came when Lang was able to squeeze in behind the leader Mufasa Metro soon after the start.

Turning for home, Lang eased to the outside and was able to reel in the John Justice trained favourite, Mufasa Metro and claim the top points.

Ollivici stopped the clock in a mile rate of 1.55.5, defeating his fellow Victorian by a neck margin.

Despite changing gait in the run and pacing, before returning to a trot, Constantinople was able to hold third placing.

The second trotting heat was the biggest upset of the night after the Queen was dethroned, fading into third placing at the hands of Cam Hart and Plymouth Chubb.

Sugarinspice led them off the arm and waited until Queen Elida moved forward to take over just before the bell, content to trail on the Victorian mare.

Adelle slowly moved forward to sit parked and as the field approached the home turn on the final occasion, Sugarinspice broke gait.

Queen Elida looked to have generated a winning break, with the gaps opening for Plymouth Chubb which had raced three back along the inside.

Still with plenty of work to do in the stretch, the richly talented Plymouth Chubb sprouted wings in the closing stages to reel in the leader and claim victory for trainer Peter Manning.

A star juvenile, the four-year-old has faced long stints on the sidelines with injury but was electric in how he attacked the line to score.

After suffering a wrist injury, Kerryn Manning was unable to take the drive tonight but with a positive prognosis this week, could be some chance of driving the four-year-old in the final should he progress, which after maximum points in Round 1 should nearly be assured.

Just Believe was clinical in victory in the third heat, never bustled in the early stages as Angus Garrard fired Sir Fahrenheit out from the centre of the line to find the front.

Greg Sugars aboard Just Believe had made his move and pressed forward to take control with one lap to travel and once in control was never in danger.

Sir Fahrenheit held on for second, with the Jack Butler and Pete McMullen driven Funny Face charging home late to grab 3rd.

The four pacing heats went to the punters script, with all four favourites saluting.

It was a Queensland quinella in the opening heat when Future Assured was able to stave off the challengers, the Trent Dawson trained and driven four-year-old proving too slick for his rivals.

The Mark Dux trained, and Mathew Neilson driven Tommy Lincoln held on for second after being the first to the pegs from gate two before releasing to Future Assured.

Kanena Provlima for KerryAnn and Robbie Morris was game in third, with second favourite Rock N Roll Doo disappointing from the wide gate to finish seventh, with Spirit Of St Louis in sixth.

Despite a potentially awkward alley, Better Eclipse for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars proved too strong, sitting parked the last 1200 metres and pulling clear.

Captain Shuffles was trying to lead throughout for Nathan Dawson, fading late to finish third, with the Angus Garrard driven and Daren Garrard trained Classie Washington darting through along the passing lane to grab second.

Heat three was the Leap To Fame show, the grant Dixon trained and reined pacer claiming the fastest heat win of the night with his 1.51.0 demolition.

Sent to the front by the 1200, it was an armchair drive for Dixon who had a strong hold on the star four-year-old, the fastest heat victory also being by the biggest margin, holding 4.9 metres to spare over the second placed Nerano which was charging home late for Jason Grimson and Cam Hart.

Deus Ex for Jack Butler and Nathan Dawson had fired out to find the fence first, the move allowing the seven-year-old to hold on for third.

There had been plenty of speculation during the week regarding Swayzee and how he had come through an arduous travel schedule to get to Brisbane from his New Zealand Cup victory.

However, that was soon put to rest when Hart took the five-year-old to the front soon after the start and was able to control the race to claim a maiden Inter Dominion Heat for Grimson.

Manila Playboy had sat three back along the inside and was able to charge home along the passing lane for second placing, giving Angus Garrard three second placings from three attempts in his maiden Inter Dominion Series.

Early leader Turn It Up held on for third placing, the 1.52.5 rate the slowest of the four pacing heats.

The heats now step up to the 2138 metre trip on Tuesday.

 

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