Hectorjayjay favoured for Inter Dominion despite horror barrier

IMPRESSIVE Victorian Hectorjayjay remains the favourite to claim this Friday’s Group 1 Inter Dominion (2936m) at Gloucester Park despite a shocking barrier draw.

The star performer, unbeaten in his three Inter Dominion qualifying heats, was as short as $1.70 prior to the barrier draw, but has since eased to $2.45 with online bookmaker Crownbet.com.au after landing barrier nine – the extreme outside on the front row.

The gelding’s trainer, David Aiken, said it was the worst possible gate to draw in the $1.1 million showpiece.

“It’s the one draw we didn’t want,” Aiken said after the barrier draw.

“He’s got such amazing early speed, but Josh (Aiken, driver) has a lot of thinking to do now.”

Also a factor for punters to consider is that the gruelling 2936m marathon distance is set to be a new experience for the pacer.

However, Aiken has reported that the son of Dream Away and Torado Hanover has pulled up well following his heat runs and is ready for the challenge.

There is also promising news surrounding Aiken’s other contender, Lennytheshark, who is the defending Inter Dominion champion.

A winner of 30 races, Lennytheshark pulled up lame following his second placing in the third and final heat last Friday, with the cause of the soreness discovered to be a hoof abscess on his near foreleg.

However, the abscess has since released and Lennytheshark is showing continual improvement ahead of the feature.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) veterinarian Judith Medd is set to inspect the horse on Thursday to determine whether he is fit enough to take his place in the 2016 decider.

If he does start, Lennytheshark will exit gate four. The reigning champion is currently rated a $4.60 chance of going back-to-back.

Leading WA trainer Gary Hall Snr also has two chances in the final, preparing Run Oneover and Beaudiene Boaz.

Run Oneover will contest the feature from barrier two and is a $4.20 shot with Crownbet, having won two of his three heats heading into the final.

Meanwhile, Beaudiene Boaz ($11) will be the sole runner on the second line. The five-year-old is looking for his 24th career win at start 42.

Already a member of the seven figure club, Beaudiene Boaz hasn’t won throughout the series thus far, but brings an impressive rap sheet into the final as the winner of the Group 1 WA Derby, the Group 1 Golden Nugget and the Group 2 Fremantle Pacing Cup.

Another pacer already proven at the highest level is Bling It On, which is right in contention to take out the title after drawing barrier one.

Driver Luke McCarthy was delighted after the barrier draw and is set to have plenty of options when the green light flashes.

“I’d love to be behind the leader and think I can be from there,” he said.

“I really wanted to draw to be on the marker pegs … he’s right in it now.”

Meanwhile, both New Zealand invaders, Franco Nelson and Smolda, have drawn awkwardly in gates six and seven respectively.

The field is rounded out by a trio of local pacers in Our Jericho (gate three), John Of Arc (gate five) and Bettors Fire (gate eight).

The latter is considered the fastest pacer off the gates in WA, which should make for an interesting event and could give Hectorjayjay a nice cart across the field.

However, 26-year-old-trainer/driver Kyle Harper concedes he still hasn’t decided how he will steer Bettors Fire in the holy grail of harness racing.

“It is a very awkward draw and I have not decided what I am going to do in the race,” Harper said.

“I think I have made up my mind about 100 times and then changed it 100 times – it’s going to be pretty tricky from out there, so it’s something that I have still got to think about.

“He has got the gate speed to just about cross, but it’s a very long race, so I am almost leaning towards taking him back early, but nothing is set in stone.

“All the best laid plans can go out the window pretty quickly in harness racing, but that’s the beauty of being both the trainer and the driver.

“I don’t have to tie a driver down to instructions, I can just go out and wait for the green light to go on and make up my mind at the time.”

The two emergencies for the final are The Bucket List (1st emergency) and Our Jimmy Johnstone (2nd emergency).

The Group 1 Inter Dominion final is race eight at Gloucester Park on Friday night and is set to fly at 12:30pm AEDT.

The event will be shown on Sky Racing as well as one of Channel 7’s digital channels, 7mate, with coverage set to start at 11:30pm AEDT.

BettingSite.com.au Inter Dominion betting tips: 9 – 4 – 8 – 10

Group 1 Inter Dominion – market

Bling It On $7
Run Oneover $4.20
Our Jericho $101
Lennytheshark $4.60
John Of Arc $26
Franco Nelson $41
Smolda $17
Bettors Fire $26
Hectorjayjay +145 with Crownbet.com.au
Beaudiene Boaz $11