There is no greater test in Australasian racing: four races across 15 days, varying distances and, this year, at four different venues.

It’s not for every horse, but it’s why those who have conquered it carve out a unique place in racing folklore.

Like Blacks A Fake, whose heroics from 2006 to 2011 made him as great a harness horse as we’ve seen in this part of the world.

The mighty Queenslander and his trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen fronted for six consecutive Inter Dominions – at six different cities in two countries – and did what no horse has ever done or will likely do again.

Blacks A Fake not only eclipsed Our Sir Vancelot’s three Grand Final wins (1997-99), but also finished second in the other two finals he contested, including on tired old legs when well past his prime in the Auckland series won by Im Themightyquinn in 2011.

He is THE pin-up horse of Inter Dominion history and, as the series returns to Victoria this year, it reminded me of Blacks A Fake’s 2008 Grand Final win at Moonee Valley when he equalled Our Sir Vancelot’s record of three wins.

It also reminded me of how, when, where and why I first fell in love with the Inter Dominion.

That was back as a teenager at Moonee Valley in the summer of 1985 when the largest modern-day crowd the track has seen – bigger than any recent Cox Plate – crammed every possible vantage point to watch Preux Chevalier and Scotch Notch win the pacing and trotting finals respectively.

The crowd was so big – 40,000-plus – and came so early they shut the gates after race three.

High drama ensued. Preux Chevalier was the champion of the time. He’d just won the Hunter Cup at the same track by what seemed the length of the straight. He was majestic and dominant on every level.

But the odds-on favourite was struck by a bout of colic just hours before the race and trainer-driver Barry Perkins had to prove his champion’s fitness with a slick spin around the track in front of the vets.

A hush came over the heaving crowd and a roar followed when it came over the loudspeaker that Preux Chevalier had been cleared to run.

The only person unhappy was then leviathan bookmaker Bill Hutchison, who dines out on the story he had “stood the champ for an absolute fortune” only to see him come through the drama and beat champion-in-waiting, Village Kid, in the final.

There were so many wonderful Inter Dominion chapters before my time and many have followed since.

I’ll never forget Victoria’s Golden Reign storming them to beat the best Grand Final field I’ve ever seen in the 1995 Christchurch final, scoring for trainers Noel Alexander and Jayne Davies and then young gun driver Chris Alford.

And what about the sheer dominance and blustering speed of Im Themightyquinn to win his three successive finals at Alexandra Park, Gloucester Park and Menangle from 2011-13.

The flair of Shakamaker winning the stunningly-well promoted first $1 million Inter Dominion final at Moonee Valley back in 2000 and, of course, the complete dominance of Elsu’s clean sweep in the 2005 Auckland series.

Of all the terrific Inter Dominions I’ve seen, the greatest race of them all was the 1997 trotting final at Globe Derby. To this day, when I watch the replay, I still cannot believe she won from where she was against such outstanding opposition with just 500m to run.

Her driver, Tony Herlihy, is back this year, trying for his fifth driving win in a trotting final but his first as a trainer with Bolt For Brilliance.

Victoria has played such a huge role in the history of this great series and it’s fantastic to have it back here for just the third time in 16 years. More history awaits come Grand Finals time at Tabcorp Park Melton on December 10.

DAN MIELICKI REVISITS THE GREAT INTER DOMINION MOMENTS:

 


 

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.