Their performances sums up the wildest start to a trotting season in memory where horses like Marcoola has gone from 12.5 length winners one start to finishing unplaced at their next.
He gets the ace draw again tomorrow night and didn't lose too many fans on night one but hardly gained any new ones so his $1.50 quote tomorrow night is more on record than current form.
"I was happy enough with him after the big change of moving stables and think he will get better throughout the series as he settles in her," said new trainer Barry Purdon.
Just as dramatic was the form upswings of Paramount King and Winterfell in winning on night one.
Paramount King was beaten 14 lengths in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All the start before when found to have a chest infection after but bounced back to set a new national record on Friday.
Winterfell was so bad in the same free-for-all he was pulled out of the Dominion a few days later but was super impressive winning the second heat on night one with a sustained display of speed trotting, reminding us of the horse he was at three.
Back then he looked a potential superstar in the making, winning the Sires' Stakes, Northern Derby and Jewels, dominating a late-season crop that contained Sundees Son, Paramount King and Majestic Mac.
But he has been the ultimate yo-yo since, his 15 starts since his Jewels wins bringing five wins but also six unplaced runs.
He goes into tomorrow night with the momentum so crucial during Inter Dominion series and with his head back in the game might deserve favouritism for the final if he stays on song.
This trotting series may not come down to the best horse, simply the one who races closest to its best form.
Interdoms night two
●The second round of the Inter Dominions are at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.
●The four heats, two pacing and two trotting, are over mobile 1700m.
●Friday's trotting heats mirrored a crazy season of form swings from our elite trotters.
