Upsets aplenty in Inter Dom heats
A G’s White Socks grabs shock win with stunning finish from near last
On a night when the Inter Dominion was turned on its axis, A G’s White Socks saved the biggest upset for last.
Only one favourite was able to salute from the four heats on the opening night of the series at Alexandra Park and Ultimate Sniper had to be stunningly good to do that.
He overcame racing three wide for half the first lap and much of the last to overpower stablemate Chase Auckland in a national record time for the 2200m mobile.
His win secured him the spot at the top of the market for the pacing final on December 14 but while his heat win could have been predicted, nobody could have seen what A G’s White Socks did in the second heat coming.
The former two-time Group 1 winner came from near last to win the second pacing heat, blasting straight past New Zealand Cup winner Cruz Bromac.
It was his first show of real form for the entire season and he has been guilty of galloping in some of his recent runs which must have left even his most ardent fans worried they would never see the best of him again.
So trainers Greg and Nina Hope rolled the dice and sent him north to champion trainer Barry Purdon, who wasn’t claiming too much credit for the win, as he only took over A G’s White Socks on Monday night.
Purdon rang Maurice McKendry, who is not even one of his regular stable drivers, to partner A G’s White Socks and McKendry was surprised to even get the call, let alone the win.
“I thought I’d be watching the series from the drivers’ room, so I was happy to get on him, but he is a lovely big pacer,” said McKendry.
While Cruz Bromac was still very good running second, the incredible form turnaround from A G’s White Socks suggested there could be more twists and turns to come in this pacing series.
There was plenty to like about horses like Thefixer, Colt Thirty One, San Carlo and Ashley Locaz in their respective heats and there was an excuse for expensive failure Bling It On.
He over-raced badly in front in the A G’s White Socks heat but was found to have been hitting the sulky wheel disks with his hooves so will need a cart adjustment for the second round on Tuesday night.
Shocks in trotting heats
The upsets started early in the trotting heats as Paramount King made the most of a perfect trail to trot a national 2200m mobile record in the opening heat.
The first surprise came when Dominion winner Habibi Inta was slow away from the mobile and got pushed back to last, launching starting the last 800m but peaking on his run in the straight.
But the winner was very good and thrilled co-trainer John Dickie, who has yet to win a trotting Inter Dominion in his storied career.
The second heat also had an early surprise when Marcoola was crossed at the start and forced to race three back in the inner before Winterfell went on to win in the bravest style.
A former star 3-year-old Winterfell has been the problem child of the open class ranks in the past 12 months but he looked spot on last night holding out Marcoola, who was a solid but not totally convincing second.
The question mark horse out of the race was NZ Free-For-All winner Tough Monarch, who dropped out to last after leading. good overs at $20.”
But it isn’t just Endless Drama’s form around Trekking that tells Pike the trip to Perth is a worthwhile exercise.
“Two starts ago he beat both Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle at weight-for-age at Te Rapa over this distance,” he offers.
“And we have all seen how they have gone in Australia. So I have no doubts he has the class to go a boomer this week.
“He is a horse who really needs a good draw because he has had throat issues and we like to tuck him away, get him relaxed and then unwind late.
“Leith gets a chance to do that this week from barrier two and then hopefully get a gap late.”
Closer to home Pike has talented mare Intrigue in the group three Eagle Technology Stakes at Te Rapa and says after two runs this campaign she is ready to strike.
“She has drawn the outside barrier which means she is probably going to settle last on the outer and that means we will need tempo.”