Dominion Trot contenders back at trials

By Adam Hamilton 

Inter Dominion trotting runner-up Gotfeelingsyouknow headlines three Aussie trotting stars who will use this week's Melton trials as a stepping-stone towards NZ Cup Week.

Trainer Chris Svanosio said Gotfeelingsyouknow and his former Kiwi stablemate Lovemeto, who both won heats of the Brisbane Inter Dominion series in July, would get some standing start practice in the 2240m trial.

It’s the same with their only rival, David Miles’ star mare Rockinwithattitude.

Miles plans to head to NZ earlier to take in a race at Kaikoura on November 2 ahead of the major target, the $400,000 Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on NZ Cup Day (November 10).

The trio hasn’t raced since finishing second (Gotfeelingsyouknow), fourth (Rockinwithattitude) and sixth (Lovemeto) in the July 18 Inter Dominion final won by Gus.

Of course, Gus is also preparing to return to NZ to defend the Dominion and NZ Trotting free-for-all titles he won so brilliantly last year.

For the Victorians, the first major target back is the Group 1 Bill Collins Trot at Melton on Victoria Cup night (October 17).

The race has been thrown wide open with the injury to last year’s winner Keayang Zahara, who also dominated betting for the Dominion.

“We’re having this trial and another next week, both standing starts, to get some practice in case they make the trip to NZ,” trainer Chris Svanosio said of Gotfeelingsyouknow and Lovemeto.

“We’re planning to go, but they’ll have a lead-up race and the Bill Collins and then we’ll make the final decision on them both.

“They seem well at home, but it’s hard to get a real line on them until they get back to races.

“They’ve both got their niggling issues and they’ll have to be right where we want them when it’s time to make a decision.”

Rockinwithattitude is a bit more forward having won a standing-start trial at Melton last week.

The TAB currently has Gotfeelingsyouknow at $7.50, wuth Rockwithattitude at $21 and Lovemeto at $26. Gus is the $2.60 favourite.