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Talented former Kiwi South Coast Arden may not be pushing onto the Inter Dominion but can secure a consolation when he lines up at Menangle on Saturday night.
The 2024 Inter Dominion kicks off at Newcastle next Friday and while South Coast Arden haas been withdrawn from teh series, he will line up against several other ID hopefuls in the Nick Robin Free For All at Menangle.
The seven-year-old looked good in making a winning return to Australia and the Paul Fitzpatrick stable when he led from a much wider barrier to score by 1.2m at Bathurst.
That was his first outing for more than six months so he'll be better for it and he owns a decent record at this circuit.
South Coast Arden has the inside draw on Saturday and should get every chance to win again.
His main challenger at Menangle could be Star Major who is assured of an Inter Dominion start having worked his way back into form, racing parked when placed at Listed level two back before digging deep to score from a wider draw here last time.
Gawn is well down the rankings for the Inter Dominion but is the likely improver in the Nick Robin field having trialled well since overracing and fading in his first outing for the Grimson yard.
He is suited back to the mile having recorded two wins and a placing from three attempts at the distance.
Ardens Ace is another ranked high enough for an Inter Dominion start should connections choose to go that way and while he draws deep in the Nick Robin he is worth including in the exotics given his consistent form.
In the west the mares will take centre stage for the Group 1 Westral Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night where classy former Kiwi Aardiebytheseaside gets the right draw to show what she can do.
She had to work when fifth in the Norms Daughter last start but led to win two starts back.
She'll enjoy the step up in distance having won both previous attempts over the 2536m journey and has an impressive strike rate at Gloucester Park, winning eight of 10 attempts.
Steno goes into the Westral Classic as the form mare, scoring two wins along with a placing against the boys in her last three outings in Group races.
The wider draw poses more of a challenge but she must rate highly after she led and dug deep to beat many of these rivals in winning the Norms Daughter last time.
Our Sandy Shore steps up against the big guns but is hard to knock having won her last two starts at Gloucester Park to extend a long string of top-two finishes.
She gets the advantage of the inside draw and that could see her measure right up.
Wonderful To Fly is an accomplished mare who is back in form with good efforts from the back row at her last couple, scoring two back before placing in the Norms Daughter. She draws to be in the finish.
