Minos’ Brave Win Secures Inter Dominion Final Berth

New Zealand-bred gelding Minos (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) earned his ticket into this Saturday’s A$1 million Group One Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Final (3157m) at Albion Park following his gutsy win in the Listed Id26 Rd2 Heat (2138m) at the Queensland track last weekend.

From his second line draw, Minos was posted three-wide with cover, but trainer-driver Jason Grimson sat patiently and eventually improved his charge to sit parked outside pacemaker Tiger Band Wagon (Rock N Roll Heaven) at the bell.

Grimson served it up to the leader and Tiger Band Wagon’s early red-hot pace began to tell and he tired, with Minos finding the top with 600m to go. The son of Bettor’s Delight continued his forward momentum and he was brave to hold off the late challenge of Dashing to win by half a neck.

“I thought I’d be smart at the start and punch through but I got caught three wide, but to his credit he just kept kicking on,” Grimson said. “He was three wide for a long way and it just shows how good a horse he is. They were nice horses chasing him down and he wouldn’t let them pass him. He looks after himself well.”

With a win and runner-up result under his belt, Minos finished the heats on 29 points, just four points shy of series leader Leap To Fame on 33 points, doing more than enough to qualify for this week’s final.

“He’s a real chance for the final if he gets a good draw,” Grimson said. “I think he’s a better chaser, he does have high speed, and I’d love to get to the rail and sit on a horse like Larry (Leap To Fame) and he’d give him something to chase.”

Bred by WDC 03 Limited, Minos is by champion sire Bettor’s Delight and out of Group Three performer Ariadne Lavra.

He was offered through Rosedale Farm’s 2022 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft in Christchurch where he was purchased by Tracey Wylie for $40,000.

Minos had just the two starts in New Zealand for trainer Mark Jones, winning on debut at Gore in September 2023 before running 11th in the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO C&G Mobile Pace (1980m).

He was subsequently sold to Australia in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Peter Larkin, and he has gone on to win a further nine races in Australia, including the Group Two Gold Chalice Final (1730m), and he has also placed in the Group One NSW Derby (2400m) and Group One Queensland Derby (2680m), with his earnings now reaching north of A$220,000.