The first night of the Inter Dominion at Harold Park was a success according to John Dumesny, the CEO of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club and while it was great to see the best taking on the best, some of the racing was a shade dull. With all of the short priced favourites well drawn in the first round of heats it was on the cards that there could be some predictable racing and it turned out that way.

Natalie Rasmussen drew first blood for Queensland in the only upset of the night when Atomic Ark came off the back of the favourite to beat Changeover narrowly. I Am Sam did what was expected of him to finish third, while the performance of Mr Feelgood was strong considering the amount of work that he had to do in the last lap to place fourth. The disappointing run of the race was Karloo Mick when he struggled up the straight and was fifth after racing outside the leader. Barry Lew has reported that there is nothing wrong with the horse but he looked a tired campaigner to me and it is going to take a lot to freshen him up for the second round of heats this Saturday at Newcastle.

The second heat was dominated by Blacks A Fake after he rolled to the top from barrier four. He was never really pressured and by the time Lance Justice found the death with Smoken Up he was happy to sit quietly and score as many points as possible. Second in the race was Our Awesome Armbro after he sat behind the leader. David Butcher said afterwards he would have liked a clear shot at Blacks A Fake earlier because he thought he could have made it interesting while Justice was just happy to get away from the race with ten points. To my eye Sammy Maguire was just ok up the straight. Gavin Lang was full of praise for him considering he had to change course when they were sprinting hard but I just get the feeling he might be still a year away from being a real top liner.

Heat three was won by Monkey King and he simply toyed with his rivals up the straight. He showed surprisingly good speed to find the pegs first but then set a farcical speed in front running 65 seconds for the first half of the last mile. It was basically impossible to make any ground from the rear of the field when Monkey King dropped into overdrive and slipped home in 26.7. It was good to see Hava Bonvoyage finish second and continue his recent good form but he was entitled to place after getting the run of the race behind the leader. All of the talk after the race revolved around the run of Tanabi Bromac. He stormed home from a long way back on the turn to finish third and was off the track when the speed was on. After watching the videos again, it's interesting to see Our Malabar is on his back approaching the turn and finishes the race in the same position. While Tanabi Bromac has kept himself in contention for the final, should Our Malabar scrape into the consolation he looks a contender after his first real encouraging run since returning home for Western Australia. I wasn't surprised to see Monkey King shorten up with TAB fixed odds but I think $3 is about as short as he should be. What price will he be if he draws 8,9 or 10 in the final and a horse like Blacks A Fake or Smoken Up draws 1? Keep in mind that when he won the Miracle Mile last year it was $4 the field and he isn't the only horse that is going to be suited by the move to Menangle.

The final heat was the most exciting of the night when Bondy led Washakie and Baileys Dream. The Hunter Cup winner was able to hold off all of the late challenges and all but qualify for the final in less than two weeks time. I still don't think he is good enough to win a 2300 metre mobile event at the elite level. I don't think he could hold the lead and win if attacked by Blacks A Fake and Smoken Up and should he sit behind the leader there would be better sprinters lurking than him. Washakie was good after death seating throughout and with a sit could be a knockout hope in the final while Baileys Dream was tough sitting wide on a track that doesn't suit him. He is another that will get better on the bigger tracks and his trainer Brendon Hill says there isn't all that much between Monkey King and Baileys Dream.

Barrier draws at Newcastle for the second round of heats won't be as crucial with all of the runners starting off the front row but obviously gate one is better than ten. I am still happy to be on Monkey King in the final while Smoken Up and Washakie both impressed me despite being beaten.

Congratulations to all of those involved at Bulli on Saturday night. The club hosted the Linden Huntley Little Memorial finals for the two year olds and it was great to see such a big crowd in attendance. The colts and geldings division was won by the Peter Tonkin trained Dee Devito. Driven by Murray Sullivan he found the front and was able to cling on and beat the stablemate Ronald George. The fillies' event was won by Vertigal trained and driven by David Thorn. Vertigal came from back in the field and proved too strong after a quick tempo was set by Giggling Girl and Mixed Media. It is amazing to see the support a club like Bulli receives from the locals and while a feature meeting like Saturday night has a carnival feel, the club's future is racing at Menangle. The current setup seems to work for most, with the club running the heats and final of the Linden Huntley Little Memorial at Bulli while all other meetings are at Tabcorp Park. I can't wait for Newcastle, catch you next week.