Inter Dominion: Owner Danny Zavitsanos eyes Auckland crown with Cruz Bromac

Owner Danny Zavitsanos is growing in confidence he can bring the Inter Dominion pacing crown back to Australia with Cruz Bromac.

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Passionate and patriotic owner Danny Zavitsanos is growing in confidence he can bring the Inter Dominion pacing crown back to Australia.

The Geelong businessman is the managing owner of TAB’s $7 second favourite, Cruz Bromac, and he insists – despite what the official records will show – his star is flying the flag for Australia in the sport’s biggest race at Auckland’s Alexandra Park on Saturday night.

“He’s an Aussie horse on every level, except we’ve sent him to Mark (Purdon) and Natalie (Rasmussen) to train for a few months to target races in NZ because they’re the best in the business,” Zavitsanos said. “I told everyone that when we won the NZ Cup last month and nothing’s changed.”

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Cruz Bromac sits on the second line of betting in the Inter Dominion final.

Cruz Bromac is fully Aussie-owned. NSW’s Peter O’Shea, the other key owner, has already won an Inter Dominion with US import Mr Feelgood on the Gold Coast in 2009.

Purdon rates Cruz Bromac his second-best chance of the five runners he and Rasmussen have qualified for the final. TAB’s $1.40 favourite Ultimate Sniper is his top pick.

“Ultimate Sniper was our best chance before the draw and even more so now, ahead of Cruz Bromac and then Thefixer,” Purdon said.

Ultimate Sniper is expected to work forward and find the lead from gate five, while Cruz Bromac (gate 11) and Thefixer (13) are off the back row and will have to make midrace moves to get into the action.

“Not many people gave Cruz (Bromac) and chance of beating his stablemates in the NZ Cup and he did it, I’m sure he can do it again here if he gets some luck,” Zavitsanos said.

Cruz Bromac was a $17 in the NZ Cup when he stormed past more highly-rated stablemates like Spankem, who was an odds-on favourite like Ultimate Sniper is tonight, Thefixer and Chase Auckland to win.

He ran huge races for second in his first two Inter Dominion heats then emphatically beat Thefixer in he last round of qualifiers a Alexandra Park last Friday night.

Owner Danny Zavitsanos is hoping Cruz Bromac can add the Inter Dominion to its honour roll in Auckland. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s going at least as well, if not better, than when he won the (NZ) Cup. And he definitely looks to be happier racing the other direction in Auckland compared to how he can get rough at times going the Aussie direction,” Zavitsanos said.

“I’ve got huge respect for Ultimate Sniper and what’s done in this series, but I’m not afraid of him. I know we’re good enough to really test or even beat him if the luck goes our way.

“Put it this way, I think he’ll finish top three and it wouldn’t surprise me if he stormed home over the top of them just like he did in the (NZ) Cup.”

Cruz Bromac worked with Ultimate Sniper in their last fast work at Pukekohe on Wednesday and looked every bit as sharp as his more glamorous stablemate.

The official three Aussies, all Victorian-trained, in the pacing final are all outsiders: My Kiwi Mate (gate one, $41), Sicario (two, $41) and San Carlo (10, $51).

Connections are happy with all three, but the best of them may be My Kiwi Mate, purely because he’s drawn the pole and will get a soft trip.

“It’s a perfect draw for his style of racing and he should certainly get his chance from there if he’s good enough,” trainer-driver Craig Demmler said.

Originally published as Inter Dominion: Owner Danny Zavitsanos eyes Auckland crown with Cruz Bromac