The two top seeds in the TAB Inter Dominion 2018 Trotting Championship are on song for a classic second-round stoush at Ballarat on Tuesday.

Both scored impressive wins as the Inter Dominion returned to Victoria for the first time in 10 years at Melton on Saturday night, and both have drawn the same heat for the second round on Tuesday night.

“Everything looks good. He seems really well and he looks a treat. He’s so relaxed,” winning driver Kate Gath said of trotting series favourite Tornado Valley.
The Andy Gath-trained seven-year-old held off Save Our Pennys, who showed he’s a serious contender for the remainder of the series for Gavin Lang.

Tornado Valley’s arch rival Speeding Spur — who is actually staying at the same property as the favourite — also recorded a first-round heat win, defeating Maori Law by 8.5m.

“An Inter Dominion’s an Inter Dominion — you’ve got to get through two more heats, so it’s a matter of saving your horse and being there for the final,” Speeding Spur’s trainer John Dickie said of the win.

Meanwhile, Spankem and Cruz Bromac made it a Pacing Championships first-round heat double for the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen All Stars stable, both scoring strong wins, while West Australian trained Galactic Star took out the other heat over a brave San Carlo.