Irish Inter-Dominion candidate Meadowbranch DJ has overcome some travel hiccups prior to landing in Sydney and since being flown across the breadth of Australia to Perth (akin to New York- Los Angeles) has settled in nicely at Greg Bond’s stables in Perth and is working well enough for his possible Aussie debut at the provincial Pinjarra circuit on November 9.
DJ has endured an arduous journey since winning the final UK/Ireland heat of the series by a big margin at Portmarnock back in August, enduring two arduous flights and bouts of quarantine in the UK and Australia, but should be spot on for the series which commences at Perth’s Gloucester Park on Friday night November 27.
The time honoured series which features the best pacers in Australia and New Zealand was inaugurated at Gloucester Park back in 1936, has also showcased some of the best from the US in past years (Little Brown Jug winner Mr Feelgood won in Queensland in 2009) and this time features its first Irish or UK runner.
Ranked at 18 of the 30 runners, Meadowbranch DJ will have to front up in three heats over varying distances in an effort to qualify for the rich $1.3 millon mile and a half plus final on Sunday December 13.
As an added bonus for UK fans, top horseman Alan Haythornthwaite will represent the UK against the likes of Tim Tetrick and Dexter Dunn in an International Driving Series at Gloucester Park on December 4 and 13.
Alan, whose Brywinsmagicpotion was beaten on countback for an Interdom berth, has already had experience of Aussie conditions – he represented the UK in the World Driving Championships in Oz in 1999.
Bring on the Interdom!!
From Bill Hutchison.
