Inter Dominion 2019: Bling It On in desperate race to make final

Victoria Cup hero Bling It On will have to really sparkle in his final heat if he is to qualify for the Auckland Inter Dominion pacing final and fly the flag as Australia’s leading hope.

Australia’s top Auckland Inter Dominion pacing hope Bling It On needs to produce something special just to make the final.

The Victoria Cup winner currently sits outside the 12-horse cut-off for a berth in Saturday week’s final and has a tricky draw to overcome in the last of the qualifying heats at Alexandra Park.

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Bling It is equal 13th on the order of entry after finishing second-last and a luckless fifth in his two heats so far, meaning he will need a top three, maybe four, finish on Friday night to surge into the final field.

As it stands, there are three Aussie pacers inside the top 12 on the points tally for a spot in the final. They are the Victorian trio: My Kiwi Mate (seventh), San Carlo (eight) and Sicario (12th).

Bling It On is the only other one seemingly within striking distance of a final berth, although luckless Queensland star Colt Thirty One could challenge, but only he can win from gate two on Friday night.

Bling It On is $14 with TAB for the final after starting the series are $5.

“Obviously nothing went right for us, but I was really happy with his run and how strongly he hit the line (Tuesday night),” Bling It On’s driver Luke McCarthy said. “He’ll get his chance Friday even from that draw if he’s good enough and the longer trip (2700m) will suit.”

Bling It On is $14 with TAB for the final after starting the series are $5.

The key firmers with TAB in the pacing series have all been Kiwis: AG’s White Socks ($35-$4.50), Ultimate Sniper ($5-$2), Cruz Bromac $5-$4 and Ashley Locaz $21-$15.

And the all-conquering Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen training team has four of the first five favourites: Ultimate Sniper, Cruz Bromac, Chase Auckland ($8) and Thefixer ($9).

NSW star Tough Monarch remains Australia’s best hope in the trotting series. He’s a $15 and has drawn to lead from the pole on Friday night.

TAB’S big trotting firmers have been: Majestic Man ($9-$3.50), Winterfell ($8-$4.50), Massive Metro ($15-$5.50), Temporale ($15-$6) and Paramount King $71-$7.

The barrier draws for the two Group 1 finals are out Sunday.

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HARNESS BREAKS $2M BARRIER

Prizemoney for the 2020 Summer of Glory carnival will surpass $2 million as Harness Racing Victoria on Thursday unveils a bold new sprint ­series titled the Mercury80.

Contested over five nights, and firing up in front of an expected crowd of 7000 people at Melton on New Year’s Eve, four $20,000 Mercury80 heats will be contested over 1200m (December 31, January 3, 10 and 17) before a $50,000 series finale on January 25.

An additional cash bonus of $20,000 will be paid to the fastest winner during the series.

A further $8000 is on offer for any horse who can break 80 seconds to win.

“It’s a fantastic concept. These are the things the industry needs to get behind,” trainer-driver Lance Justice said.

“It’s really significant, the prizemoney and those cash ­bonuses.”

Justice is a four-time winning trainer of The Stampede, previously Melton’s only 1200m event.

His now retired pacer Coastal, who scored back-to-back Stampede successes in 2010-11, still holds the fastest winning time at 1200m, stopping the clock at 80.6sec.

“Coastal just had sheer high speed and was so strong for 1200m. He wouldn’t waver,” Justice said.

HRV racing general manager Stephen Bell said the ­series was designed to engage fans and excite punters.

“People want to have fun while attending a sporting event. Racing needs to be engaging, entertaining and ultra-competitive,” he said.

With Cody Winnell

Originally published as Inter Dominion 2019: Bling It On in desperate race to make final