Ready for Inter Dominion in Bunbury

Trainer Greg Bond believes Our Jimmy Johnstone is in career-best form as the horse prepares for a tilt at the Inter Dominion series.

The bay gelding won Saturday night’s $50,000 Jones Boys Mahindra Bunbury Cup (2569m) just five days after saluting in the $30,000 Don Randall Memorial Cup (2631m) in Pinjarra.

He will now take on the best horses in Australia and New Zealand during the Inter Dominion series, which begins next week and includes a round of heats in Bunbury.

Our Jimmy Johnstone was scheduled to run in last year’s series before being kicked in the lead-up – an injury which ruled the horse out for several months.

Perth-based Bond said Our Jimmy Johnstone had backed up well from both of his wins and he believed the horse could be competitive in the $1.8 million series.

“He has had a trouble-free run this time and is in the best form of his career,” Bond said.

“We will take him there at 100 per cent and hopefully have a bit of luck in the barrier draws.

“It will be a big test against some of the best horses though.”

Bond said the two wins had formed part of a preparation aimed at having the horse primed for the Inter Dominion.

It also means Our Jimmy Johnstone has had five wins and two places from his last seven races.

Bond described the Bunbury Cup win as “pleasing” and said winning the Don Randall Memorial Cup also had personal significance.

“He was our local member and we always caught up as he was an avid supporter of harness racing,” Bond said.

“It was nice to be able to win a race named in his honour having had a bit to do with him.”