Hoping Inter connection is an omen

RESPECTED trainer Joe Pace hopes the connection between his top pacer Supreme Dominator and a pair of stars from the past can continue later in the season.

Successful at two of his last three starts, Supreme Dominator’s wins have come in the Preux Chevalier and Our Maestro Free-For-Alls – the latter at Tabcorp Park Melton last night.

Multiple Group One winners, Preux Chevalier and Our Maestro reached the sport’s highest peak during the 1980s by capturing the Inter Dominion.

The features in their honour are part of the Melbourne-based/Victorian-trained Inter Dominion winners circuit.

One of Western Australia’s favourite sons, Preux Chevalier was triumphant in the 1985 Championship at Moonee Valley, while Victoria’s Our Maestro outclassed his rivals during the 1988 series at Harold Park in New South Wales.

Pace is counting on the Inter Dominion ties to Supreme Dominator’s victories as an omen as he works the son of Bettors Delight towards the Melbourne edition in November.

“His last couple of wins have been in races named after Inter Dominion winners, so maybe it’s a sign,” Pace said. “It obviously doesn’t work that way, but it would be nice if it did!

“He’s got a few other targets before then such as the Victoria Cup, but the Inter Dominion is where we are heading.”

Driven by James Herbertson, Supreme Dominator was caught three-wide early from barrier six before being settled in the one-one as Line Up led and Tango Tara worked in the ‘death seat’.

Taken three-wide again leaving the back straight, Supreme Dominator bullocked his way to the front before staving off the fast-finishing Torrid Saint to score by a short half-head.

Tango Tara battled on gamely to be a metre away third in 1:54.6 over 2240 metres.

“I’m pretty happy with that run, especially considering he is still short of fitness,” Pace said.

“With such a long campaign ahead I won’t have him fully wound up until we get closer to the Victoria Cup.”