Bathurst's Inter Dominion runners to race in consolation after missing out on final in Auckland

Bathurst's three Inter Dominion Pacing Championship contenders will have to be content with a run in the consolation event after a gallant but ultimately unsuccessful run of heats in Auckland.

Steve Turnbull's Atomic Red and Conviction plus Chris Frisby's 2018 Inter Dominion runner-up Our Uncle Sam needed placings from Friday's third round of heats to even be a chance of reaching the $500,000 final but it wasn't to be.

Our Uncle Sam led into the home straight of the night's first heat but couldn't match it with a sensational Ultimate Sniper, who made it three from three in the series.

Anthony Frisby sent Our Uncle Sam to the front of the outside line with a lap remaining, with Conviction in tow.

Unfortunately for the Bathurst pair they finished eighth and 13^th respectively.

Atomic Red raced at the rear of the field in the following heat in the hopes of making up ground in the run for home.

Turnbull tried to get his runner to stick with the field when the tempo lifted but when he drifted off the back of the pack with 200 metres to go he eased Atomic Red up.

Anthony Frisby was naturally disappointed to miss out on a placing after sitting in a promising position late in his heat but couldn't fault Our Uncle Sam's effort.

"He's getting better and better with every start. We're disappointed he didn't get into the final but it's different for them going over there and racing the other way, and we didn't get much luck with draws," he said.

"When I went around into the death seat he overraced a little bit. He didn't relax like he normally does, but that could be him getting a bit keener and ready to rumble."

Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here.

It was a disappointing night for the New South Wales crew as one of the early Inter Dominion hopes, Bling It On, also missed out on the final.

Frisby's hopeful good times will come in the consolation.

"He'll run another good race next week and you just need that little bit of luck with the draws when you're racing these good horses all the time," he said.

"I was hoping we'd get a back row draw for the last heat and get a cosy run somewhere and he could have earned the points.

"Hopefully we can get a bit of luck on Saturday night and he can get himself right in it."

Ultimate Sniper is currently a red hot $1.40 favourite on betting markets for the Inter Dominion Final after drawing gate five for the decider.

Friday night's second heat winner Cruz Bromac is currently the next best backed runner at $7.50 and fellow back row starter Thefixer is at $9.

The results from the heats shouldn't be seen as a failure for the Bathurst crop, who not only went up against the best standardbreds Australasia has to offer, but did so in unfamiliar racing conditions at Auckland.

All three horses are strong chances to line up in Boxing Day's Group 2 Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst.