INJURY may have denied star Tasmanian pacer Beautide the chance to win three successive Inter Dominions but his Tasmanian replacement Devendra might have what it takes to take out this latest edition of the series in Perth Western Australia.
At Gloucester Park in Perth tonight (Friday) Devendra signalled a warning to his 30 rivals that he will be a serious contender for the title with a brilliant all-the-way win in the opening heat over 2130 metres.
With his trainer James Rattray in the sulky, Devendra showed brilliant gate speed to lead and after travelling 400 metres he had the odds-on favourite Waylade ($1.40) breathing down his neck facing the breeze.
But those who invested in Devendra backing him in from $8 to start the $5.60 second elect were rubbing their hands with glee when the Bettors Delight gelding slipped clear in the home straight.
Devendra went on to score by about six metres from Waylade with Shannonsblast a distant third.
“He is a really good racehorse that is going to handle this track and he is in great order as he showed tonight,” Rattray said.
“Having won the past two Inter Dominions with Beautide it’s nice to have the chance to win another one, albeit with a different horse.”
“We’ve won the first heat and that was our objective now we just have to hope for some more luck with the draws (barrier) throughout the series and we could have another crack at a final,” he said.
The next round of heats will be run at Bunbury on Tuesday with the final round of heats at Gloucester Park next Friday night.
The Inter Dominion final will be made up of the top 10 point scorers from the three rounds of heats and it will be run at Gloucester Park on December 13 carrying prizemoney of $1.3 million.
By Peter Staples.