In the lead-up to Saturday night’s Group 1 event, there was talk from the McCarthy camp how they intended to have Cobbitty Classic (Andrew McCarthy) take on Blacks A Fake for the early lead from gate 3, while connections of The Warp Drive were also talking up having their usually fast-beginning stallion cross for the lead from gate 4. 

Both these plans were tossed out the window at the start when Rasmussen timed her dive for the front on barrier release, giving nothing else even a hint of grabbing the early lead.  This left The Warp Drive leading the outside division, and Robin Hood (Gavin Lang) out three wide before moving forward to drop into the ‘death’. 

Toe Taper (Daryl Douglas) got an early break by being able to find the back of Blacks A Fake for an excellent trail. Smooth Cruza NZ (Gavin Fitzpatrick) also was then racing forward with good cover, but both Kiwi representatives Tribute NZ and Mainland Banner NZ were relegated to the rear. 

It would seem that no rival drivers were prepared to go forward and put the short-priced favourite under any pressure mid-race, as the leader got away with a 30.7 seconds first quarter of the last mile, followed by a 30.0 second quarter.  Such a breather at this point of the race appeared to make a sure certainty of the leader being able to out-sprint its rivals at the end of the trip, especially as Robin Hood and then Flashing Red had both been wide, with the latter now up racing in the ‘death’, a position from where it has often been in its races. 

Murphy at one stage had tried taking Sting Lika Bee up around the field, but could then see there was no way for his pacer to find any cover out there, and he eased back hoping to find another route home. 

The pace was upped for the second last quarter with a 28.1 section, then in the final sprint for the line, the winner paced it in 28.6, resulting in an overall mile rate of 1:58.6.  The margins of a head by 2.2 metres resulted in a much tighter finish than most people expected, including the trainer-driver of the winner, as it was far from being an emphatic victory for the horse many believe to be the best pacer in Australia. 

A huge effort in the race was that of Robin Hood.  Making a late return to racing this season after an injury suffered in last season’s Hunter Cup, Robin Hood six days earlier was flattened not long after the start of the Tasmanian Cup, and took no further part.  So, it could be said this race was only its third start from a long spell.  It was most impressive, as of course was Flashing Red, an ideal type for the Adelaide Inter Dominion. 

It is worth noting on Saturday night that throughout the meeting, only one horse came from well back in a field to grab first.  This was Foreal NZ, winner of the Cup Consolation.  Blacks A Fake was out in front, so perhaps the effort of the improving Tribute NZ in passing several horses close to home should be noted. 

Because this season’s Inter Dominion heats will be held in two States for the first time ever, officials have given a five-day break for horses to contest the opening round at Moonee Valley before all are floated across to Adelaide for the second round.  A five-day break is the longest yet between an opening and second round of heats in any Inter Dominion. 

Mainland Banner NZ had not been nominated for the Inter Dominion with trainer Robert Dunn preferring to space the races for his classy mare.  There are still good opportunities in coming weeks with the changes in dates to the usual schedule which in the past has culminated with the Inter Dominion.  There is the Ballarat Cup on February 3, the A.G. Hunter Cup on February 11, and three Grand Circuit races in Perth, pushed back to March this season.