WHILE night one of the Brisbane Inter Dominion was largely predictable, Tuesday’s second round of heats is loaded with intrigue.
The three pacing stars of opening night – Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Better Eclipse – have all drawn the back row in their 2138m second-round heats, giving their rivals reason for optimism and chance to earn vital points towards a Grand Final berth.
While the three big guns will still be clear favourites, they will need luck, especially Swayzee and Better Eclipse, to overcome tricky or daunting barriers.
It’s a little better for Leap To Fame, who will start from two-out on the back row (gate nine) and should trail through well before trainer-driver Grant Dixon launches him in search of the lead.
But his powerhouse half-brother Swayzee has the worst possible draw, inside the back row (gate eight).
Young gun driver Cam Hart will have to decide whether to basically abort the start and drag right back to get into clear air or push through and hope gaps appear when it matters.
Winning the heat isn't vital to Swayzee, but it would add to the aura he's earned with nine wins from as many starts since joining Jason Grimson's stable.
Although the five-year-old is the standout in his heat, it will take some performance to win if Hart does drag back and come around them all.
Talented local Speak The Truth looms as the hardest for Swayzee to beat, especially if he can find the lead from gate two.
Trainer Shannon Price was thrilled with the four-year-old's run despite only beating two home from a bad draw and after settling last on opening night.
"He smashed the clock and will be better for the run," she said. "We needed a good draw (on night two) and we've got it. We need to take full advantage of it.
"I think he's come back at least as good, if not better than ever. I deliberately took him in the series fresh so he can build through it.
"If he finds the front, I know the sort of times he can run, and he'll certainly give them something to beat."
Better Eclipse, who was arguably the most impressive of the four pacing heat winners on opening night, will also need lots to go right to win from his wide back row draw (gate 11).
But co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars can afford to drive him for luck and doesn’t need to do anything heroic after picking up maximum points on night one.
Things unfold quickly at the Inter Dominion and unplaced runs from former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo and dual Miracle Mile runner-up Spirit Of St Louis mean they need big showings on Tuesday to stay in contention for spots in the Grand Final.
Rock N Roll Doo, who finished seventh on night one from a wide draw, fared awfully again in gate seven (outside the front) on Tuesday.
Spirit Of St Louis is drawn much better in gate two and has the early speed to utilise it, but he does have Leap To Fame to contend with.
