Inside draw gives Minstrel every chance in opening ID24 heats

The inside draw will give Western Australian raider Minstrel every chance to kick off his Inter Dominion campaign on a winning note at Newcastle on Friday night.

The 2024 Inter Dominion series looks an open and highly competitive affair in both the pacing and trotting divisions with last year's champions and a few other big guns missing so draws will prove crucial through the series and the last-start WA Cup winner looks beautifully served in that regard in the opening heat of the pacing series.

Minstrel has an accomplished record in the west and was tough in that WA Cup when racing parked but digging deep. He has the gate speed to take advantage of the barrier and that could see him hard to get past.

The in-form Max Delight is another well drawn in heat one. He has been wonderfully consistent this campaign and comes into the series on a winning note, racing parked before scoring by 3.7m at Menangle last start.

He has recorded a Len Smith Mile placing and a fourth in the Victoria Cup at the top level this time in so can challenge from a low draw.

District Attorney has been out of the money at his last couple but he defeated Leap To Fame earlier this season and has since been runner up in the Sunshine Sprint, Len Smith Mile and Kilmore Cup so his best measures right up.

Rising four-year-old Don Hugo returns in heat two, his first appearance since winning The Eureka in September and he too has come up with the inside draw.

He may be first-up but has been readied for this series with two trial wins and is proven fresh so expect him to show speed from the inside draw.

Mach Dan draws behind him and brings strong form including a G1 Victoria Cup placing two back.

He has raced three times at the circuit for two Newcastle Mile wins and a placing in an Inter Dominion heat the last time the series was in NSW. That record must be respected.

Tenzing Bromac is the other WA pacer to head east for the series and he has had tough draws at home of late so could measure up from a more favourable barrier.

Both Nerano and Captains Knock have somewhat tricky draws but both have the talent to win if the breaks go their way.

Cantfindabettorman returns to NSW for the third heat and brings fine form having won three of his last four at Melton.

He claimed some big scalps last time when he worked from the back row to find the front and score by 6.6m at Group 3 level and that form should stack up strongly.

Queenslander Blacksadance has returned in good order, coming from the back row for a resuming second then leading to win the G2 Queensland Cup at Albion Park last start. Another good barrier gives him strong claims.

Curly James finished hard as runner up to Blacksadance in the Queensland Cup, continuing his strong form that included a Victoria Cup second two back.

His last NSW appearance saw him score at Menangle he goes well at this distance with two wins and a placing from three attempts.

Kiwi late entry Tact Mcleod is one the more interesting series contenders and while he cops a tough draw for his opener he has been good against the big guns in NZ this campaign, highlighted by a G2 Canterbury Classic win.

The early co-favourites for the Trotters final will go head-to-head in the opening round with The Locomotive and London To A Brick clashing in the first of the square gaiters' heats.

The Locomotive is flying with four straight wins to his name. He left Victoria following a G1 Vicbred Super Series win and has been dominant in two Menangle victories since so looks hard to stop.

London To A Brick has ground to make up on The Locomotive on his resuming fourth but easily won a trial since and is proven second-up so should have come on.

He had terrific form last campaign with a string of wins and placings including a G1 Queensland Cup victory so is a danger if he is in that shape.

Harry Stamper and Keayang Chucky both have strong enough Victorian form to suggest they will measure up while Plymouth Chubb was very good in last year's series including a heat win so expect he has been set to peak for the next two weeks.

Royal Dan cops a second row draw in heat two but is a talented trotter who kicked off his campaign with a G3 win in Brisbane. He may need some luck but has a win and a placing from two second-up attempts so has winning claims if the gaps come.

Mufasa Metro was runner-up in the final of this series last year and is in form at the right time with back-to-back wins in Victoria, last time leading to score by 7.3m win in the G2 Australian Trotting Grand Prix. He draws wider but is going well enough to overcome that.

Queen Elida is working her way back into form with placings behind Mufasa Metro in her last two at Melton. She is proven at this distance and her best would win this.

Last start Swan Hill Cup winner Parisian Artiste gets the right draw while Queenslander Gus was let down by manners first up but put together a string of wins in Brisbane last campaign so is a talent when on his game.