Harness racing bloodlines from the Lawrence district were to the fore at the Interdominions in Western Australia late on Tuesday night.
The Tuapeka Lodge-bred Galactic Star delivered Aussie favourite Lennytheshark a shock defeat with a big finishing burst to take the first heat on the Bunbury card.
The pacer is by Bettor’s Delight from Tuapeka Lodge mare Petra’s Star.
The 5yr-old had a handy New Zealand career with Southland trainer Des Baynes before beginning his racing career in Australia in July of last year.
The second heat on night two of the Interdominions was won by Tiger Tara, from the late Ray Anicich’s Tara breed, which he established in Lawrence before moving to Canterbury.
Tiger Tara led and ran a track-record time to beat Otago-bred Kiwi star Lazarus, who was forced to race outside of him for the last half of the 2100m heat.
The final Interdominion heat at Bunbury was won by local pacer Soho Tribeca. Otago-bred horses could not continue their run of form in the event with the province’s only runner, Simply Susational, galloping out of contention early.
Lazarus has the perfect opportunity to put a heat win on the board in the final round of heats at Gloucester Park tomorrow night. Though the New Zealand star has not drawn perfectly in barrier 7, he faces the weakest of the night’s heats.
The remaining two heats look two-horse races between Western Australian and eastern state raiders. Western Australian star Chicago Bull has the advantage of barrier 1 in his clash with Tiger Tara, who starts from barrier 6.
In the next heat, Lennytheshark will start from barrier 7 and
Soho Tribeca has barrier 9.
