Harness-racers in Melbourne

HARNESS-racing horses are arriving in Victoria from Queensland and NSW for upcoming big races – including the Inter Dominion.

Blacks A Fake, winner of the past two Inter Dominions and favored to complete a hat-trick at Melbourne's Moonee Valley on March 1, was among six horses flown from Brisbane to Melbourne late Thursday and immediately floated to a temporary quarantine station at Geelong's Beckley Park as a final precaution against equine influenza.
Another two top Queensland hopes for the Inter Dominion, Be Good Johnny and Slipnslide, were to be flown to Melbourne overnight.
Eight NSW horses are being transported by road after a week's quarantine at Sydney's Harold Park and were also due in Geelong this morning.
The $400,000 Hunter Cup will be run on February 3 at Moonee Valley, the Inter Dominion heats on February 16 at Geelong, the semi-finals on February 23 at Moonee Valley, with the $750,000 final there the following Saturday.