Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
ID PACERS HEAT FOUR
Just as he did last week in the opening heat, Sure Thing Captain had his latest heat wrapped up soon after the start, taking control and scoring an effortless win.
It was the veteran Turn It Up that showed his blistering early speed, before Sure Thing Captain worked forward to assume the front and run a controlled opening half of 60.2 seconds.
“Yes, it was good, he got a little keen out of the gate, but he relaxed good after that,” Sure Thing Captain's driver Adam Sanderson said.
A 26.7 second third quarter was followed by 27.1 second run on the way home to hold off a game Max Delight.
Tims A Trooper attacked the line strongly for third, with the first three across the line all progressing to Saturday’s Final.
ID PACERS HEAT FIVE
Heat five hosted the anticipated clash between Leap To Fame and Don Hugo.
It was billed as the entrée to next week’s main dish.
However, it did not live up to that with Leap To Fame again brilliant.
Don Hugo was well below his best when finishing midfield.
Kanena Provlima showed superior early speed before handing to Aroda who worked to the front, while Don Hugo was soon away from the inside and left leading the one-wide line.
With one mile remaining, Pinseeker began pulling hard and driver Jonny Cox allowed the gelding to stride forward.
Pinseeker took the lead from Aroda and was then freewheeling in front.
“It turned into a really serious race when Pinseeker took off,” Leap To Fame's trainer and driver Grant Dixon said.
“They were stop start but when they got going, they got going fast.”
Dixon made his move with Leap To Fame at the 700 metre mark, quickly setting out after the leader and withing 200 metres the series favourite was in front and then never headed.
Nyack ran on strongly for second, while Kanena Provlima grabbed third, with Don Hugo faded into eighth place.
ID PACERS HEAT SIX
After an indifferent effort on the opening night, Speak The Truth bounced back to his best with a controlled victory in the final pacers heat to earn a spot in the $1 million Final.
With one plan in mind, driver Adam Sanderson sent the six-year-old straight to the front and from there he was able to lead the field through a 59.1 second opening half and fend off the challengers with closing splits of 27.1 and 27.8 seconds.
“It’s as good as he’s gone for a long time so I’m really happy,” Sanderson said.
“He stays but he lacks that bit of speed, but he was strong on the line, so it’s all systems go for next week.”
Scoring by three metres over Captains Knock, Speak The Truth now progresses through to his second Inter Dominion Final after finishing sixth behind Leap To Fame in 2023.
It also provides trainer Shannon Price with a two-pronged attack in the 2025 decider.
ID TROTTERS HEAT THREE
After leading all-the-way over last week’s 2138 metre heat journey, Kiwi visitor Bet N Win was again able to find the front in the early stages.
However, over the 2680 metre journey, Bob Butt opted for cover.
That cover was provided by London To A Brick who worked forward in the early stages to take control and run the field through a 60.3 second first half.
“London To A Brick was always going to be a good one to trail because he was looking for maximum points after he galloped last week,” Bet N Win's driver Bob Butt said.
Not As Promised rolled forward to sit without cover, while Bet N Win was tucked away in behind the action
With 400 metres to travel, the field started to fracture, with Gus making a sweeping run from the back as London To A Brick tried to fight them off.
Bet N Win was angled into the passing lane by Butt and was able to dart through to take victory over London To A Brick, with Gus holding third.
“The run couldn’t come quick enough, I was bolting,” Butt said.
The reinsman is now through to his first-ever Inter Dominion Grand Final.
ID TROTTERS HEAT FOUR
All eyes were on Oscar Bonavena at the start of the race with Adam Sanderson trying to nurse the veteran in the early stages.
It was to no avail, as he broke gait soon after the start.
Constantinople and Luke McCarthy pounced first to find the front before Tayla French urged Parisian Artiste forward to capitalise on the situation.
“I thought I had to come out a little bit harder to cross the ones under me but when I saw Luke push the button early, I knew he wasn’t going to hold up, so I was able to just glide across,” French said.
Rolling along at an even tempo once finding the front, French rated the gelding through opening splits of 29.9 and 29.8 seconds as Arcee Phoenix moved forward to sit outside the leader but apply no pressure.
Turning for home, Arcee Phoenix looked the only danger to the leader, but it was all Parisian Artiste who pulled clear, with Love Gun finding space in the closing stages for third.
Parisian Artiste will now contest his third consecutive Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final.
THIS WEEK
It is Grand Final week and there will be action aplenty both on and off track.
Racing starts with a Monday night meeting at Redcliffe with three fixtures for the week to come from 'The Triangle' in a revamped racing week where they will also race Thursday afternoon and Friday night.
Albion Park will boast 10 race cards on both Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday night before the biggest night of the harness racing year will see five Group 1 races decided on Saturday night.
Along with the Finals of both gaits of the Inter Dominion, there is the Queensland Derby, Queensland Oaks and Golden Girl.
On Tuesday at 'The Creek', the first heats of the Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held, with 10 heats to be staged, culminating with the tenth and final heat on 'ID25' Final night.
