It all comes down to this - one big Saturday night at Albion Park that will deliver two Inter Dominion champions.

Every second will count, so let's dive into the moments that have gotten us here to see who looks most likely to wrap their hands around Australasia's most coveted silverware.

 

8.22PM: INTER DOMINION TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL

THE VICTORIANS

MUFASA METRO (1)

Sectionally, Mufasa Metro is the third best rated horse in this race behind Just Believe and Queen Elida.

His best sectional performance recently was in the second round of Inter Dominion heats when he finished third behind Just Believe and Plymouth Chubb. In this race he had to cover an extra 20 metres racing off the fence.

Trainer-driver John Justice has stated his belief that this horse is best suited being driven as a stayer and is intending to lead and hold the front. He has the benefit of the fence line draw, which is crucial over the longer trip.

JUST BELIEVE (4)

The international star who is rising to each occasion. This race should be no different and he is the best sectionally performed horse in this race.

His best two recent sectional performances were in his round two Inter Dominion heat as well as his run at Bendigo four starts back. In both these events he was racing outside the leader. It’s likely he will be racing tough here as well, where he thrives.

If Just Believe races outside Mufasa Metro, he will need to cover roughly an extra 22 metres, which equates to 1.5 seconds. On best recent performances, Just Believe is only 0.8 seconds better than Mufasa Metro on sectional times.

However, he has proven he can rise to the occasion and has been winning so easily of late.

QUEEN ELIDA (5)

Five starts back Queen Elida performed sensationally at Melton when winning after covering an extra 28 metres. Had she raced on the fence in that run her personal mile rate would have been 1:55.9.

Since then, she has still been racing well but inconsistently. At her best, Queen Elida is the biggest threat in this race to Just Believe.

As Queen Elida does not have the gate speed to lead, she is unlikely to work forward into the chair and will therefore have to rely on her high speed late.

OLLIVICI (6)

Ollivici is a great Victorian trotter who has unfortunately drawn poorly in this event. He consistently performs well sectionally, but he will be relying on a lot of luck to take out this event.

He does not have the gate speed to go forward and from barrier 7 he is very unlikely to find the fence. He will likely have to cover too much extra distance over the longer trip to threaten.

PLYMOUTH CHUBB (10)

Kerryn Manning takes the reins back on Plymouth Chubb for the Inter Dominion final. If the emergency does not gain a run, he will come out of barrier 9, which will allow him to find a safe position without doing any work early.

He has the fastest quarter speed in this race and if he is left for one run he will be charging home late.

Best of the locals:

GUS (13):

He is an electric, fast horse who isn’t afraid to put himself into the action. He has the fastest last 400m speed in this race and if he manages to settle and is saved for one run he will be flashing to the line.

 

6.30PM: INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL

THE VICTORIAN

BETTER ECLIPSE (11)

Better Eclipse is sectionally the fourth best rated horse in the pacing Inter Dominion final. He is versatile with great strength and electric speed. He has the second best last 400m burst in this event and thrives over the longer distance races.

Last start when third in the Inter Dominion heat, Better Eclipse had to cover an extra 26 metres with a personal mile rate of 1:54.2 including a 26-second last quarter. If racing on the fence that would have equated to a 1:53.3 mile rate.

Coming out of barrier 11 this week, Better Eclipse will need to race with a similar pattern to how he performed last week. With luck he can win, but it will not be easy.

BEST OF THE REST

NERANO (1)

The luck has already fallen to Nerano when he drew barrier one. He also has great gate speed, with his best recent gate performance coming from the first round of Inter Dominion heats this year when he ran 27.6 lengths in the first seven of the race.

Interestingly for race dynamics, his gate speed is 1.2 lengths slower than Turn It Up's (2) best gate speed, so he is at risk of being crossed.

His best asset is his high speed. He has the fastest swooper and overall quarter speed of all horses in this field. He performs very well over the longer distance sectionally and will be flashing late.

Nerano is a big winning chance if he does not get shuffled too far back.

TURN IT UP (2)

Potentially the best gate speed horse in Australia. On times he can cross Nerano at his best and is then likely to hand up to Future Assured, Swayzee or Leap to Fame.

Future Assured is likely to be the next horse on the scene, having equal gate speed to Nerano.

Turn It Up does have blistering speed, but may not have the strength to win the event.

SWAYZEE (3)

A sensational horse who is breezing through the Australasian Grand Circuit races.

His gate speed is very slow, however, he is not a full length slower than his brother Leap To Fame.

Swayzee will need to stay in front of Leap To Fame to be able to win this event. If he finds the fence before Leap To Fame he will be hard to beat.

FUTURE ASSURED (4)

Sectionally, he performs best over the shorter trips, but is continuing to improve.

There is a chance if Turn It Up finds the front that he could be the one to take the lead if he puts enough pressure on. If he finds the fence, he is a place chance.

LEAP TO FAME (6)

Arguably the best horse in Australasia right now, however, Leap To Fame will need to get in front of his brother Swayzee early for his best chance to win.

Sectionally, Leap To Fame is the best performed horse in this race, but he has been beaten when having to race outside high-class horses in Grand Circuit events.

Leap To Fame's best chance in this event would be for Turn It Up or Future Assured to find the front and for him to be the first horse on the scene to take the lead. If he finds the front it’s unlikely any challenger would be able to run past him.