Don Hugo (right) in the first round of ID24 heats at Newcastle. Photo by HRNSW
Eureka winner Don Hugo ramps up his bid for a place in the Inter Dominion Pacing final when the series heads to Bathurst for round two.
Don Hugo was a beaten favourite when resuming in his opening qualifier at Newcastle and while he strikes arguably the most competitive heat on Wednesday night he should be improved.
The four-year-old led from the inside draw and stuck on to be beaten 5.3m in round one so can be expected to be prominent early from another good barrier.
He usually performs well when second-up so with a little more fitness under the belt connections will be keen to earn some big points to secure his place in Saturday week's final.
He tackles impressive round one winner Cantfindabettorman who cops a second row draw after a 9m romp at Newcastle where he worked his way to the front before drawing away late.
He may be relying on a little more luck this time but that victory was his fourth success from his last five outings so he is looking one of the form horses of the series.
Mach Dan and Max Delight are both Group 1 performers coming off solid opening round efforts and have the talent to earn big points in this heat while District Attorney is the query given his questionable form and an early break at Newcastle but the ace draw gives him the chance to turn it around.
Jimartee could be the big improver in the first of the heats after a luckless but eye-catching series opener.
He drew inside of the back row at Newcastle and travelled four back on the pegs but came wide in the home straight and found the line strongly for fourth.
He had been racing well in Queensland before that and should be close to his peak now so looks a player from a much better draw.
He comes up against an in-form Captains Knock who draws the same back row position he had when winning in round one.
Trainer-driver Brad Hewitt produced a stroke of genius in that race to find the one-one position in a mid-race move before Captains Knock toughed it out late.
It may take another masterful drive but the stallion has proven he is up to the older pacers and a real contender for the title.
Nerano and Don Lou both had tough draws in round one but have the talent to be in the finish with even luck while Blacksadance faded out at Newcastle but has the speed to give a sight from the ace draw.
A wide draw wasn't enough to stop round one winner Minstrel from opening as a dominant favourite in early betting for the third of the pacing heats.
The WA visitor got his series off to the perfect start when led took advantage of the ace draw, leading throughout to score by 4.6m.
His fortunes have changed as he draws deepest on the front line this time but has the pace to get across and looks one of two form horses in the race, the other being Curly James.
Luck has also gone against him as he draws on the back row but he continued a consistent run of results when he came from there for second in his series opener.
Queen Elida had been winless since March but roared back into form in the opening round of the series and draws to back that up in the first of Wednesday's trotting heats.
A placegetter in last year's Inter Dominion final, Queen Elida had been below her best in the back half of the season but had been working her way back into form in Victoria of late and delivered in style at Newcastle, leading to score by close to 5m.
She draws to push forward again and looks set to really make her mark on the series.
Keayang Chucky and Plymouth Chubb both came from back row draws to place in round one and while the latter draws there again, the former could be the main challenger from a favourable barrier.
The performance of London To A Brick could have the most bearing on the series as he came in as one of the favourites but is in need of points after galloping in round one.
The other series big gun - The Locomotive - had no such concerns, making a winning start at Newcastle for his fifth victory on the trot.
He gets the same draw and will start a hot favourite but Royal Dan could be the improver after he was held up and shuffled back on the pegs before making late ground to place.
He draws on the inside of the back row again but has a sprint lane at his disposal this time.
Last year's Inter Dominion runner-up Mufasa Metro was a bit disappointing in his opener but is capable of much more while Aldebaran Vera draws to be in the finish.
