Racing: Interdominions go back to the past

Themightyquinn will be a top prospect for the Interdominions in Perth next year. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Interdominion Pacing series is returning to its traditional format, but with a twist.

And there may not be many Kiwi trainers keen to tackle it.

Next season's series in Perth will be pacing only, with the future of the trotting series still to be decided, but definitely not being staged in conjunction as trotting races barely exist in West Australia.

However, many harness racing purists will at least be happy to know next year's series will revert to the old three-heats-in-a-week format.

Perth harness racing bosses have confirmed the return to the format which made the series so popular, and so tough, until just a few years ago.

The series used to be run on a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday until about five years ago when budgets and declining public attendances on the opening nights saw it reduced to two rounds of heats a week apart, followed by a grand final, as was the case at Alexandra Park two weeks ago.

Perth bosses have reinstated the three rounds of heats but will hold them in an even tighter timeframe, Friday-Monday-Friday.

The first round of heats will be on February 17 but the second round will be on February 20 to save clashing with a major cricket match at the WACA, which is right next door to the Gloucester Park track, the next night.

Gloucester Park bosses say while that will make the series testing, the horses who do attend will be well rewarded.

"We are holding four heats each night, with just nine pacers, all off the front is each heat," said Perth boss John Burt.

"And the heats will be A$60,000 each, so every horse who comes to the series will have a great shot at getting some money."

The final will be on March 2 and worth A$1 million, thanks to sponsorship from ATG, the Swedish version of our TAB. The series will be named after their V75 product, a hugely-popular version of our Pick6, which Swedish officials are pushing into the Australian market.

"By having nine horses in each heat and the final we are giving them a chance but still ensuring great, competitive racing," said Burt.

While a lot can change in 10 months, with the Australian dollar so strong against the Kiwi dollar, the heats are worth around $80,000 each, with the final close to $1.3 million.

Perth Interdominions have rarely attracted the best New Zealand talent, which isn't all that sharp at the moment, anyway. Pacers like Stunin Cullen and Smiling Shard would be naturals but because it could also clash with Auckland Cup Week, the trainers of lesser New Zealand equines could choose to stay home.

One thing is for sure, with the money on offer and the return to the old format, next season's Interdominion champion is going to earn it the hard way