The dominance of Australians in the Inter Dominion is over.

Aussies “owned” harness racing’s marquee race with 13 wins from 15 finals between 2002 and 2015, but the Kiwis have snared the past two with Smolda (2016) and Lazarus (last year).

And, at the halfway mark of this year’s series in Victoria, two Kiwi pacers — stablemates Cruz Bromac and Spankem — are TAB’s $4 equal favourites for Saturday week’s $500,000 Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Another Kiwi, Im Pats Delight, has been one of the revelations of the series so far and is fifth in the Grand Final market at $8 with TAB.

Amazingly, that trio were the only New Zealanders among the 36 horses who started across the three qualifying heats on opening night.

Between them, Cruz Bromac, Spankem and Im Pats Delight have won four of the six pacing heats in the series so far.

And TAB’s markets say the dominance will continue in Saturday night’s third and final round of heats at Cranbourne on Saturday night.

Spankem is a $1.45 favourite to his heat and Cruz Bromac even shorter at $1.08 in his qualifier. Im Pats Delight has drawn poorly against Cruz Bromac, but is still the $6 second favourite.

So who are Australia’s best hopes of repelling this small, but elite team of Kiwi raiders?

Veteran warhorse Tiger Tara, himself a former Kiwi, looks our best hope.

He’s yet to win a heat, but both runs so far have been eye-catching and he is TAB’s $1.40 favourite to win his heat at Cranbourne.

Tiger Tara, who easily beat home Cruz Bromac on his home patch in the Group 1 NZ Cup last month, is $5 to win the final.

Then there is the classy Victorian pair, San Carlo ($6) and Wrappers Delight ($8). They are yet to be proven at the absolute elite level, but shown the right qualities.

The only Aussie with a genuine chance in the final looks to be WA pacer Galactic Star, who won his first heat and then ran a brave third to Cruz Bromac after a tough run on night two.

Importantly, Galactic Star has danced the Inter Dominion dance before — twice. He won a heat in last year’s Perth series and ran a terrific fifth in the final behind stars like Lazarus, Chicago Bull and Tiger Tara.

Australia’s hopes are brighter in the trotting series where Andy and Kate Gath’s Tornado Valley has won 15 of his past 17 starts, including his two Inter Dominion heats so far.

And he’s $1.20 to complete a clean sweep of the heats at Cranbourne on Saturday night.

Tornado Valley is TAB’s $2 favourite for the Grand Final, but a Kiwi, Speeding Spur, looks the main danger at $3.50.

TAB’S INTER DOMINION FINAL MARKETS
PACERS
$4 CRUZ BROMAC, SPANKEM, $5 Tiger Tara, $6 San Carlo, $8 Im Pats Delight, Wrappers Delight, $14 Galactic Star, $41 Im The Boss, $81 or better others.

TROTTERS
$2 TORNADO VALLEY, $3.50 Speeding Spur, $6.50 Maori Law, $9 Save Our Pennys, $10 Kyvalley Blur, $14 Tough Monarch, $51 Big Jack Hammer, Father Christmas, $61 or better others.