INTERDOMINION
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Im Themightyquinn's sizeable shadow may not loom large over this year's InterDominion, yet he'll never be far from the mind of Gary Hall Jnr as he stands on the brink of history.
No reinsman has managed to win the race four times in-a-row, but thanks to Im Themightyquinn's three straight victories in Australasia's premier event, Hall Jnr is only a few minutes away from re-writing the record books.
Brian Hancock (Our Sir Vancelot, 1997-99) and Natalie Rasmussen (Blacks A Fake, 2006-08) have scaled the InterDominion mountain on three straight occasions. And this time Hall Jnr is relying on Western Australian Im Victorious, prepared by former Olympic gold medallist Michael Brennan, to launch his bid for Interdominion history.
"Knowing I'd be the first person to do it is not going to stop me from trying harder," Hall Jnr said. "I'll definitely be going out there to win it.
"I probably thought about it when it was first mentioned or about a week out from the race, but I try to forget about everything and pretend I'm going to a race meeting and appreciate how good a day it is.
"When I'm out on the track it's game face on and I'll forget about everything else."
Hall Jnr steered Im Victorious to Fremantle Cup success last month as the five-year-old, fourth in last year's Miracle Mile at Menangle, seeks to fill the Grand Circuit void left by the recovering Im Themightyquinn in the west.
Strangely enough, Hall Jnr's father Gary Snr could ruin his son's history-making exercise when outsider Livingontheinterest launches from barrier two in the $750,000 grand final.
"I would love to have [Im Themightyquinn] there, but it's not to be," Hall Jnr said. "It's just a different feel about it [this year] not driving one in a race like this for dad.
"There's eight or nine horses - maybe even 10 - that are better than [Livingontheinterest] and you would have to think all of them would have to have a bad run and not live up to their form for him to be in the finish.
"[But] I think he'll surprise a few people. He won't get beaten down the track."
Im Victorious is expected to be afforded all the favours from barrier one for Hall Jnr, with most of the top chances drawn awkwardly. His driver's confidence certainly hasn't diminished in the lead-up to the race.
"I think he's a genuine chance from the draw," Hall Jnr said.