Inter Dominion 2019: Dream team Mark Purdon, Natalie Rasmussen tighten hold on finals after draws

Powerhouse trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have tightened their hold on the Auckland Inter Dominion after the marbles rolled the right way for them at the finals barrier draws.

The dominance of powerhouse trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen just got stronger again at Auckland Inter Dominion.

As if “owning” the heats with stars like Ultimate Sniper, Winterfell and Cruz Bromac, Purdon and Rasmussen have odds-on favourites in both Inter Dominion Grand Finals after Sunday’s barrier draws.

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Ultimate Sniper’s emergence in this series saw him stunningly win all three of his qualifying heats. He was $1.80 after night three, but firmed again to $1.40 with TAB for the final after landing gate five.

Enhancing Ultimate Sniper’s good draw is the fact major rivals like Cruz Bromac (gate 11), AG’s White Socks (seven), Thefixer (13) and Chase Auckland (nine) all drew much worse.

Ultimate Sniper looks set to start the shortest-priced Inter Dominion pacing favourite in modern history, even shorter than the $1.55 Elsu was winning the 2005 Auckland final.

Purdon and Rasmussen trainer five of the 12 pacing finalists and they are five of the first six favourites: Ultimate Sniper ($1.40), Cruz Bromac ($7.50), Thefixer ($9), Chase Auckland ($12) and Ashley Locaz ($15).

They have just one runner in the trotting series and that’s Winterfell, who firmed from $2.50 to $1.70 after drawing ideally in gate two.

Cruz Bromac (above) drew poorly in gate 11 for the pacing final.

It’s been a disappointing series for the Aussie raiders in general, but at the least have largely been kind to those who made the finals.

In the pacing final, opportunists My Kiwi Mate and Sicario drew superbly in gates one and two respectively. They remain $41 shots with TAB. Our other finalists, San Carlo, has drawn poorly in gate 10 and is out to $35.

“You beauty. That’s absolutely perfect for a horse like him,” said My Kiwi Mate’s trainer-driver Craig Demmler.

But San Carlo’s trainer Steve O’Donoghue was trying to hide mixed emotions after the draw. “I’m just thrilled to have made a third consecutive Inter Dominion final. But, yes, it’s also the third time he hasn’t drawn well. It’s a big, big task from there.”

Aussie outsider My Kiwi Mate has drawn superbly in gate one.

In the trotting final, Victoria’s Big Jack Hammer also drew perfectly in gate one where he should either trail the leader or be three-back on the inside.

The query is whether Big Jack Hammer is going well enough to fully utilise the drew. It seems his form has got worse as the series has gone on.

Our only other trotting finalist, NSW’s Tough Monarch, drew poorly in gate 11 on the back row.

“It’s not great, no,” said trainer Rickie Alchin. “But I’m really happy with the horse. He’s hit the line so well in his past two runs. We just need a lot of luck now from that draw.”

TAB has Tough Monarch at $16 and Big Jack Hammer at $31.

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Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have tightened their stranglehold on the Auckland Inter Dominion series heading into the finals.

INTER DOMINION BARRIER DRAWS

PACING FINAL

FRONT ROW

My Kiwi Mate $41

Sicario $41

Ashley Locaz $15

On The Cards $101

Ultimate Sniper $1.40

Mach Shard $151

AG’s White Socks $9

Triple Eight $101

BACK ROW

Chase Auckland $12

San Carlo $35

Cruz Bromac $7.50

Classie Brigade (emergency, $151)

Thefixer $9

TROTTING FINAL

FRONT ROW

Big Jack Hammer $31

Winterfell $1.70

Destiny Jones $101

Majestic Man $5

Monty Python (emergency, $151)

Valloria $151

Bonnie Highlander $151

Marcoola $7

BACK ROW

Temporale $16

Habibi Inta $16

Tough Monarch $16

Paramount King $16

Massive Metro $17

Odds: TAB

Originally published as Inter Dominion 2019: Dream team Mark Purdon, Natalie Rasmussen tighten hold on finals after draws