Tornado Valley was $1.7 into $1.5 shortly after TAB.com.au opened fixed-odds markets following today’s TAB Inter Dominion first-round barrier draws.
The draws, which were conducted live on TAB’s Facebook page and on Sky Racing 2, resulted in Speeding Spur opening $1.35 in his trotting heat and Cruz Bromac being backed from $1.55 to $1.35 in his pacing heat.
Tornado Valley’s hefty early support may just come off as he’s the best trotter in the race. However, trainer Andy Gath did warn punters that Inter Dominion riddles are never as easy to solve as some may first think.
For whilst Tornado Valley drew the front line in gate six – and he’s a whirlwind by name and nature off the mobile arm – Gath said he was sure the favourite would have to work hard to find the top.
“If he does happen to lead, it’ll be at what cost?” Gath said.
“There’s a lot of gate speed inside him.”
Tornado Valley opens $1.70 favourite in the second heat of the #ID18 Trotting Championship at @Tabcorp_Park Melton on Saturday night. https://t.co/m4mm8V10dc pic.twitter.com/3UyUw6IwR4
— TABcomau Media (@tabcomaumedia) November 26, 2018
Tornado Valley is the $2.10 Inter Dominion Grand Final series favourite with TAB – he started today $2.6 – after winning 13 of his last 15 starts for the Gath team, whose gun driver is Kate Gath, Andy’s wife.
Among that win streak are two Group 1 wins, in the Seelite Windows and Doors Australian Trotting Grand Prix and the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trot.
Gath has nothing but respect for New Zealand superstar and ID18 No.1 seed Speeding Spur.
He’s good friends with trainer John Dickie and the horse actually stays at Gath’s property when he’s in Australia.
“He’s a great horse and has been the benchmark for some time,” Gath said.
The Long Forest trainer will also put the polish on trotter Kingdom Come ($61 with TAB) at ID18 and Burnaholeinmypocket ($151) in the pacing division.
