Australian Analyst – Albion Park Inter Dominion Heat Night Preview 4th July

The Inter Dominion Championship begins at Albion Park on Saturday night. Here is our race-by-race preview for all 10 races.

Two-time winner and defending champion Leap To Fame kicks off his Inter Dominion campaign in race six, the third heat for the pacers.

For the trotters, x-factor Susan Is Her Name competes in race three against the defending winner Arcee Phoenix.

While the heats are important, a lot of attention will fall on the Group 1 The Rising Sun for the pacers and the Group 1 The Great Square for the trotters.

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Albion Park Preview – Saturday, July 4

Race 1

MOVE IT LOU NZ (2) has won three straight races before a freshen up and recent trial victory. Two starts back he carved out a 1:51.2 victory. Three runs back he defeated Always B Cool and that horse has since finished second behind Cool And Classy in The Queensland Sun. Pete McMullen will be trying to cross the horse inside before likely wanting a sit on Maxo Mighty.

MAXO MIGHTY (3) should be driven handlebars down searching for the front. He made an error last start. Prior to that, he won a hat-trick of races, all of them 1:50 or 1:51 mile rates at Menangle and Albion Park.

NYMBAL NZ (9) has been perfect since arriving in Australia and he gets a nice trailing draw in the moving line. If they run a quick first quarter or half, Robbie Morris will make them pay again. YOTTIE (10) looks the other key chance in the race.

Selections: 2-3-9-10

MOVE IT LOU NZ (2) each way

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Race 2

BAY OF BISCAY (3) is one of two Emma Stewart runners in the race and he is the more fancied one in this heat. The Group 1 The Eureka winner from last year can death seat if required but I suspect that Max Delight will be content sitting – the same goes for Sweet On Lexy if he gets fired off the arm. Whether he leads or has to race in the moving line, he has strong claims.

MAX DELIGHT (1) went to WA to capture the Group 1 The Nullarbor before running third in the Group 1 Fremantle Cup. He loves a soft trip and sprints quick last halves and quarters when given those conditions. Each-way prospects here.

MINOS NZ (11) is probably the only horse in the race capable of giving his main dangers a head start and still reeling them in. Jason Grimson has this horse airborne, and if he can qualify for the final, he can win it all with the right run. CAPTAINS KNOCK (9) has the class, but I need to see a run first as he is first-up. Smaller hopes to OLIVER DAN (2), SWEET ON LEXY (6) and CHEERSTOLOU (8) – the latter has the best chance of running into the money.

Selections: 3-1-11-8

BAY OF BISCAY (3) to win

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Race 3

SUSAN IS HER NAME (9) is the only trotter to lower the colours of champion squaregaiter Keayang Zahara. That was back in May 2025 and we haven’t seen this mare race since. She has trialled twice in recent months, beating the pacers at the most recent. She looks very hard to beat here.

ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (3) will lead early for fun before looking to trail either Arcee Phoenix or Susan Is Her Name. She is generally a half-step below the elite trotters but did show her best winning the Group 1 Macarthur Mile two runs ago.

ARCEE PHOENIX (6) is back to defend his crown and would love to lead. He will sit parked if he has to, but that would make him vulnerable. Each-way prospects. HIDE AND SEEK (2), REMUS PHOENIX (5) and LONDON TO A BRICK (10) are probably place hopes at best.

Selections: 9-3-6-2

SUSAN IS HER NAME (9) to win

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Race 4

TRIEDTOTELLYA (1) is the Tasmanian representative and he looks to lead or be behind the leader. The winner of 20 races from 28 starts, his gate speed will be put to the test here as Speak The Truth can run the gate hard. Whether he leads or trails that horse, he will get every chance to fight out the finish.

SPEAK THE TRUTH (6) is the obvious danger with his gate speed. He finished second in the Inter Dominion Final last year. He is always around the mark in top company and this heat looks suitable.

WAR DAN BUDDY (9) and FIGHTER COMMAND (11) are a pair of Victorians with each-way claims in the race. BIRKIRKARA (8) gets the perfect draw to finish in the top four.

Selections: 1-6-9-8

TRIEDTOTELLYA (1) to win

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Race 5

GUS NZ (2) is the dominant favourite for the series and this star trotter thrives at Albion Park, winning 18 times from 43 attempts. He isn’t known for his gate speed, so whether he works around to find the front, or sits in the moving line, he is going to be hard to hold out with his closing speed.

KEAYANG STUKA (8) follows quick beginner Im Bobby and Team Lee has this trotter primed for the series. He proved too slick for Rockinwithattitude at Melton last start. He looks a great each-way bet in the race, either racing behind the leader or three back on the fence.

IM BOBBY (1) gets the perfect draw which gives Will Rixon options. He won three starts ago and had no luck last start behind Lovemeto. PARISIAN ARTISTE (5) hasn’t raced in 2026, although he won a trial at the track in 1:53.1, home in 54.6. His best race form is very good.

Selections: 2-8-1-5

KEAYANG STUKA (8) each way

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Race 6

LEAP TO FAME (5) is the star of the show and gets a perfect barrier draw to assert his dominance with a heat win. He can stroll to the front and from there, that should be the end of the race. Larry has won 45 times from 52 starts at Albion Park and being afforded an “easy” run in the opening heat should help his quest to defend his title.

UBETCHA TIGERPIE (2) has to be aggressive to find the fence before seeking cover on Leap To Fame. From there, he has strong claims of finishing with the silver medal. Looks a great option for second and third place in exotics.

DANGEROUS (8) joins Jason Grimson and his recent trial in 1:48.3 was unreal. Cam Hart simply has to get off the fence early as he can’t afford to get dragged back by Amami. He is probably a place chance at best from the awkward draw. THE JANITOR NZ (6) actually has an awkward draw with Leap To Fame to his inside. If he works too hard, he can certainly miss a place in this contest.

Selections: 5-2-8-6

Exacta: 5 / 2,8

Trifecta: 5 / 2 / 6,8

Trifecta: 5 / 6,8 / 2

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Race 7

TRACY THE JET (5) gets the nod in The Great Square which looks to have so many winning hopes. The barrier draw has made this race a great spectacle and trying to find the winner is not easy. She is a four-year-old mare with nine wins from 17 starts. The Victoria Trotters Oaks winner of last season should press forward trying to find the pegs, but that isn’t guaranteed to happen. Potentially the best scenario would be Jilliby Dreamlover, the quickest off the arm, crossing the field and surrendering the lead to Tracy.

MECARNO (12) looks the sectional star of the race and has drawn terribly. There should be some good horses to track home though, so if he can land a suitable cart into the race, then he could be dangerous.

So many hopes here and it’s hard to narrow them down. DASH DOSH NZ (4) has conquered Tracy The Jet already and has good New Zealand form, so looks a good contender. I AM HELLBOUND (11) continues to improve and win constantly. CRACKERJACK NZ (13) looks an x-factor runner. JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (6) has the gate speed to be in the firing line at the start. SUPERIOR STRIDE (2) finds the pegs first and then hands over to a suitable horse.

Selections: 5-12-4-11

TRACY THE JET (5) to win

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Race 8

CAPTAINS MISTRESS NZ (3) has been an odds-on favourite in the futures markets and finally we have arrived at The Rising Sun. She has won nine races from 10 starts this season, as she finished fifth in the Group 1 Miracle Mile won by Leap To Fame. She was held up so we won’t ever know if she would have won that race too. With her freakish qualities, it is easy to see why she is favourite, but the $1.45 is skinny, so I am happy to be against her.

FINAL DEADLINE NZ (4) can blast out and Adam Sanderson needs to cross to give him the best chance of causing an upset. He won the Redcliffe Gold Cup in fast time at his most recent start. He was runner up behind Captains Mistress in the Group 1 Chariots of Fire last campaign, but I suspect he has improved since then.

ZEUS LIGHTNING NZ (1) and HOLLYWOOD STRIP (2) will both enjoy good draws and they have each-way claims in the event. This is the biggest test for Hollywood Strip as the three-year-old now meets four-year-olds. MARKETPLACE NZ (6) is a Kiwi star but this draw is horrendous – if he wins, then he stamps himself as a freakish talent. DOUBLE LOU (5) was in beast mode last time but this is significantly harder. COOL AND CLASSY (10) has knockout place claims.

Selections: 3-4-1-2

FINAL DEADLINE NZ (4) each way

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Race 9

RIPPLES NZ (5) gets the front line at the bigger Albion Park track. That’s already two positives compared to last start at Redcliffe. She has very good gate speed and Luke McCarthy may call upon that quality to try and find the lead. If successful, she should hold that position as she was a runner-up in an NSW Oaks heat when leading and just failing to hold off Willows Girl.

SEASIDE BOULEVARD (9) caused an upset in the Redcliffe Oaks. She needs luck again but at a price, she looks solid each-way value if that’s your preferred horse in the race.

SPARKLING SEA (13) has the worst draw to contend with but she has won nine times from 12 starts. Her class alone will see her run a huge race and she trialled against Cynical, Hollywood Strip and Max Delight recently. AMYLEE (2) and ALWAYSBJOY NZ (6) have winning prospects too, as does STRIPES (10).

Selections: 5-9-13-2

RIPPLES NZ (5) to win

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Race 10

JACWILL KID (4) joins Jason Grimson and he already has the Group 1 Gold Crown Final on his resume. He dominated an Albion Park trial and looks the hardest to beat here in the small field.

BIRDSONG (2) is unbeaten in four starts and she won the Group 1 Gold Tiara Final. Her main danger won the equivalent, so this looks a great match race on paper. She also won a trial in easy fashion, this one at Menangle.

It will be a shock to see neither horse win. BETTOR ONE (1) is probably the most likely of doing so, but more likely has place claims.

Selections: 4-2-1-3

JACWILL KID (4) to win

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For complete Albion Park entries, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink