The Inter Dominion trotting series was always going to be Victoria’s best hope of glory, but there is a pulse in the pacing series after a pleasing first round of heats.

Passionate Victorians highlighted a pack of Victorian-trained pacers cross the line close together in second (Catch A Wave), third (Rakero Rebel), fourth (Better Eclipse) and fifth (Tango Tara) in the first of the three pacing heats last Saturday night.

Without a doubt the best of them was Catch A Wave, who showed a glimpse of his very best with scorching closing splits to charge into second spot behind leader and winner, Sure Thing Captain.

Under the new points system, Catch A Wave’s clock-busting late splits earned him three bonus points towards a spot in the final. He got the same points as the winner in his heat.

Trainer Andy Gath was all smiles as he darted down to see his talented but enigmatic stable star after the run.

“That was terrific,” he said. “You never know what to expect from him and in the run, the way the race was run, I thought we were in trouble, but he really picked up and charged home. Let’s hope he backs it up from here.”

Rakero Rebel led early, took a sit on the winner Sure Thing Captain, and stuck to the task well without ever threatening the winner in an official last half of 53.1 and 26.5sec.

Her stablemate, Better Eclipse, who ran second to Leap To Fame in the 2023 Brisbane Inter Dominion final, was held up for room and hit the line well for fourth, just 2.2m behind Catch A Wave.

While Catch A Wave’s stablemate, Tango Tara, was close-up behind Better Eclipse in fifth spot.

It’s doubtful any of the Victorians will trouble Leap To Fame come final time, but having some finalists and a genuine place chance amongst them is important.

As we knew going into the series, Leap To Fame and Don Hugo are a level above their rivals and showed it with easy opening heat wins.

It won’t get any easier for the Victorians in the second round of heats next Saturday night, especially Catch A Wave.

Not only has he drawn awkwardly out in gate six, but he is almost unfairly drawn the same heat at Don Hugo and Leap To Fame.

It looks almost certain Don Hugo will lead with Leap To Fame on his back and they will dominate.

Kate Gath will need to weave some magic and try to finish top three or four to get enough points to make the final.

In the trotting series, Victoria’s big gun Arcee Phoenix produced one of the best performances of the night in defeat.

The six-year-old went back to near last from a wide draw with top young Kiwi Bet N Win dictating terms in front.

Despite having to sustain a long-three-wide run without a trail on a track hugely advantaged to inside runners, Arcee Phoenix made terrific late ground to just 3.6m from the winner, Bet N Win, in an official 56.5sec last half.

That means Arcee Phoenix must have gone high 55sec for his last half and three-wide for almost all of it.

The other Victorian Harry Stamper also ran a booming race for fifth for trainer Joe Pace after an uncharacteristic early gallop.

In the other heat, Parisian Artiste defied the pattern of the night by sustaining a long three-wide run for third, while the US-bred Aldebaran Acrux was a brave and close-up fifth after sitting parked.

They clash again, this time in the same heat as Arcee Phoenix, on night two. Parisian Artiste (gate four) and Aldebaran Acrux (three) only need to run up to their first round runs to make the final. 

Arcee Phoenix drew just where trainer-driver Chris Svanosio would not have wanted in gate eight (inside the back row) in his second heat.

What’s worse, he follows out Kiwi star Oscar Bonavena, who has a history of galloping from inside draws and he has gate one.

It’s going to be a fascinating and anxious night's racing for those cheering for the Victorians next Saturday.

But that’s what Inter Dominions are all about.

Victorian drivers' post-race comments: 

Photo: The Creek