The Dominator looking to reign Supreme in Italian Cup

Still savoring his first Group 1 success three weeks ago, trainer Joe Pace is looking forward to the return of a pacer who could add to that tally in the coming months.

The winner of the Group 2 Cranbourne Pacing Cup in 2021, Supreme Dominator hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing unplaced in the A. G. Hunter Cup four months ago.

Pace indicated the son of Bettors Delight is “around 85 to 90 per cent” for Saturday night’s clash with Queensland-bound Triple Eight, who is a $1.45 favorite in the TAB Italian Cup at Melton.

“He has had three trials and I was happy with his last trial at Melton where my son Adrian drove him tougher, asking him to sprint from the 600 metre mark and he did it on his own with the ear plugs still in,” Pace said.

The Italian Cup has only attracted a field of six horses, which could enhance the winning chances of Supreme Dominator according to Pace.

“The small field suits him, particularly if there is a genuine tempo and the swoopers come into it,” he said.

“He is a sit-sprinter who only has to come around five horses.”

Pace said Supreme Dominator’s initial major assignment would be the Group 1 Victoria Cup.

“Along with the Victoria Cup, we will run him in several country cups leading up to the Inter Dominion and hopefully get him up the rankings,” he said.

Pace-trained Harry Stamper served notice he will be a major player in the feature three-year-old squaregaiting races when he took out the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby at Menangle after sitting parked for the last 1200 metres.

“He is a terrific little horse and won’t have to improve much to be one of the main chances in races like the Derby and The Holmfield,” Pace said.

Bookmakers rate the Emma Stewart-prepared Like A Wildfire as the main danger to Triple Eight, who is attempting to complete a hat-trick of wins at Tabcorp Park.

Like A Wildfire has been freshened since finishing runner-up behind stablemate Longfellow in the Easter Cup at Launceston on April 16.