Outstanding Victorian 6YO Lennytheshark completed a dominant fortnight of racing when he sat parked outside gallant West Aussie representative Lovers Delight and came away in the home straight to win the Inter Dominion Grand Final at Perth’s Gloucester Park in December.
Rating 1:54.8 for the 2536 metre (mile and a quarter) journey he made it three wins and a luckless second from his four series starts and gave David Aiken his first Inter success after many tries. Driver Chris Alford had previously tasted success in the series in 1995 in Christchurch NZ behind Golden Reign.
A NSW Derby winner, he hasn’t been overraced in his career and Aiken decided that there was one path and one only for his son of Four Starzzz Shark after a heat win and sixth in the final of the previous ID in Sydney and he was trainer with this series as his mission.
Obviously his path was made easier with the defection from the series of Beautide who’d dominated the two previous editions.
The first of three rounds of heats was held at Gloucester Park over 2130 metres where Lenny, a $2.20 favourite to win the series, did all the work to score well; Beautide’s stablemate Devendra led all the way and top Victorian Philadephia Man outsprinted his opposition in the fastest 1:53.8.
The provincial city of Bunbury was venue for the sprint series of heats over a mile where “The Shark” continued his winning form, My Hard Copy driven by Clinton Hall for his father, top local trainer Gary Hall who had six runners in the series, took advantage of an early speed battle to score in a track record 1.51.6, and Philadelphia Man backed up with another soft success.
It was back to Gloucester Park for the final round over the 2130 where the best point scorers had the outside draws and upsets prevailed. Lennytheshark travelled wide before eventually finding a spot outside Lovers Delight with that fellow holding on by a neck; top mare Libertybelle Midfrew led all the way and staved off a late challenge from Philadelphia Man while Devendra, who’d lucked out after an early burn at Bunbury, showed astonishing sprinting prowess to come from last on the turn and snatch an unlikely victory.
Grand Final day was a glorious Sunday afternoon with the 2536 metre (mile and a half) trip sure to sort out the men from the boys. Those in the betting were Lennytheshark $2.10 from gate 3; Philadelphia Man $5.70 drawn 4; Lovers Delight $6.80 from the pole; Waylade $8.90 from the two hole and Devendra $9.40 who disappointingly drew the outside gate.
As expected local hope Lovers Delight for champion local reinsman and dual ID winner Chris Lewis pounced on the lead and was soon joined by Alford aboard Lennytheshark. Alford rejected the early opportunity of a trail when Queenslander Avonnova had an early look, and was content to try and dictate terms from the breeze. Quarters of 30, 28.8 and a fast 27.4 third stanza saw the two leaders race clear of their rivals on the final bend with the classy Shark prevailing in the run to the line, mile rating a brilliant 1;54.8.
Runner up Lovers Delight ran the race of his career while honest Victorian Flaming Flutter, who’d been runner up in the previous Inter, was the only trailer and battled on solidly late for third. Avonnova, who’d lucked out in his early foray, used inside runs from last for a terrific fourth.
Biggest disappointment was the failure of Irish visitor Meadowbranch DJ who’d won the four race UK/Ireland Interdom Qualifying series in the northern summer.
A sick horse when he got off the plane in Sydney, the Flanagan team were determined to fulfil their obligations but after plenty of professional (and some not so) advice the horse failed to produce his best form – finishing at the rear in his three heats.
British and Irish fans know the true ability of DJ as does this writer along with top Kiwi horsemen Dexter Dunne and Cran Dalgety who saw him race last year.
Other features of the carnival were rich race series for four year olds and mares and an International Drivers Challenge where the cream of Aussie and Kiwi reinsman were pitted against USA champion Tim Tetrick and Alan Haythornthwaite and John Richardson from the UK and Ireland.
Special guest Tetrick was out and about and had a lot of fun at each and every function and at one stage drove five consecutive winners in two days at country tracks Pinjarra and Northam.
Gloucester Park officials should be congratulated on their presentation of this, the first of three consecutive WA runnings.
Coupled with their willingness to bend over backwards for the industry and its participants, they have the most user friendly harness track in the world, and put on an Inter Dominion in its original format – that being four races in two weeks for the toughest and best pacers in Australasia and the world.

Bill Hutchison