Race 8 - TAB INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1)

SS=Sit Sprinter V=Versatile E=Enforcer L=Leader

OVERVIEW: if you quizzed 20 experts on what will happen in this year’s exceptionally intriguing Inter Dominion Pacing Final and also asked them who would prevail, you’d get 13 different Speed Map scenarios and at least six different winners. The only guarantee is that it will be one of the most keenly contested, intellectually absorbing and wildly unpredictable harness races of the past 10 years. First let’s explore the map. Most pundits agree that GALACTIC STAR (1) can resist all early challenges into the first bend before having the option of keeping the front or handing over to an appropriate rival. It’s this analyst’s contention that given there’s only one horse Ryan Warwick can hand up to who definitely won’t hand up again in TIGER TARA (7) that he’ll wait and resist until that Vic Cup winner sidles up and then give him the top. That would leave SPANKEM (5) and IM PATS DELIGHT (3) in the running line; SAN CARLO (8) three poles and CRUZ BROMAC (9) almost forced to make a mid-race move in search of the breeze. Under that scenario there would be three ‘major’ winning hopes; SPANKEM (5), TIGER TARA (7) and SAN CARLO (8) and given the difficulty in separating them we’ll stick with the horse who we’ve followed throughout in SAN CARLO (8) who looks the only ‘big gun’ runner almost assured of doing zero work in transit. SPANKEM (5) rates second just clear of TIGER TARA (7) with CRUZ BROMAC (9) just below them on the basis of how tough it is to win major races from the breeze these days. IM PATS DELIGHT (3) is also just on that second tier given he’s most likely to get shuffled back early unless he shows previously unseen gate speed at the start. Of the rest GALACTIC STAR (1) also warrants respect but may just lack the absolute class to win an ID final as does OUR UNCLE SAM (10) who has had a phenomenal series and would have rated as winning hope if he’s drawn better on Monday morning.