Bathurst trio of horses qualify for 2018 Inter Dominion heats | Videos

Bathurst’s Steve and Amanda Turnbull and Craig Frisby all have a shot at Australasia’s most prestigious racing crown after qualifying one runner each for the upcoming Inter Dominion heats.

The $500,000 final is one of the most sought after harness racing prizes in the Southern Hemisphere but places are only open to the top 36 runners in the rankings.

Steve Turnbull’s Joes Star Of Mia went on a winning spree over the early season, recording three Group 3 victories, and has been rewarded with the number 13 position.

Ellmers Image shot up to 22 for Amanda Turnbull following a stunning 1:49.9 mile rate victory at Menangle on Saturday.

Our Uncle Sam made huge strides over the past two months, a Group 3 runner-up result being the highlight, and has jumped from 70 to 29.

There’s still a chance Steve Turnbull’s other hope Conviction could make a start in the heats but after coming in at 39 he will require several other trainers to pull out before final acceptances.

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“It would be nice for Conviction to make it because he’s been racing so well,” Steve Turnbull said.

“That was a big jump [for Joe’s Star of Mia]. He’s been racing against the best and he’s had a couple of nice placings to Tiger Tara. He’s been right up there with him.

“Over the last six weeks he’s come so far. We just don’t know where he’s going to level out. If he could stay up there it would be really good.”

There was an opportunity for the Turnbulls to field more horses in the series before circumstances changed.

Atomic Red was a possible top 10 hope before he was injured for Steve Turnbull while his daughter’s leading hope Tact Tate was recently sold to new owners in the United States.

Bathurst Harness Racing CEO Danny Dwyer said it’s fantastic to see three runners still in the hunt for the Group 1 spectacle.

“It’s great to see, especially for Our Uncle Sam who has risen through the rankings quite a lot. Talking to Chris and Anthony [Frisby, son] they had their fingers crossed that they could get in but had a bit of work to do,” he said.

“The most recent placings at Menangle in Group 3 company has increased their profile and pushed them up the ladder.

“It’s not a home series either. Sometimes you can be flooded with entries in a home Inter Dominion but to make the cut and travel to Victoria it’s a great achievement for them.”

Tiger Tara will go into the series as the number one ranked runner following his brave runner-up result in the New Zealand Cup.

Len Smile Mile champion Cruz Bromac jumped up two places to number two with the withdrawal of Our Dream About Me.

Former Group 1 Blacks A Fake winner Let It Ride was beaten by Ellmers Image in Saturday’s Office Diamond Stakes. That result dropped him down to three in the final standings.

Shadow Sax and San Carlo round out the top five.