There was no repeat of 11 months ago, when she went down as a $1.20 favourite in an Inter Dominion semi, with the Tony Herlihy-trained-and-driven mare getting home as a $1.70 favourite in the second $40,000 qualifier.

It sealed her a spot in the $250,000 Group 1 final – a race in which she was also beaten at odds-on last year – to be run at Moonee Valley this Saturday night.

Herlihy was relieved to see the seven-year-old daughter of Sundon open her Australian campaign with a win.

“I just wanted to stay out of trouble with her and make sure we got through to the final,” he said. “She went well and we did that and the run will do her no harm.”

Herlihy settled her in the second half of the field after starting from barrier nine, but after getting a cart into the race via Skyvalley he pushed on to the death seat 1400m from home and from there she dictated the race.

She shot clear rounding the home bend, going on to beat dead-heaters Skyvalley and Whatsundermykilt by 4-1/2 metres with Will Trapper and Ella Powell the next two home.

After a 32.3-second first quarter, the second split was 31.4 seconds before 29.7 and 28.9-second closing sectionals for a 2:04.3 mile rate.

That was more than two seconds slower than what Australian Trotter of the Year Sundons Gift went to win the earlier semi setting up an epic Trans-Tasman battle in the final.

The star gelding ensured Australia’s king of the trotters, Chris Lang, will get his shot at back-to-back Inter Dominion crowns when he returned to his best.

The $2 favourite put behind him the bad manners that have hindered his recent races with a commanding 1-1/2-metre win over Save A Sixpence ($5.40), with Conquer All ($47) 2-3/4 metres away in third spot in a 2:02.1 mile rate.

Lang, who was caretaker trainer when Galleons Sunset won last year’s final at Moonee Valley, was pleased to see the reigning Australian Trotter of the Year trot all the way after galloping over the concluding stages at recent starts.

“I’d like to say he’s only 90 percent fit because I didn’t do a lot with him during the week and he could go 10 metres better next week,” Lang said ominously.

Fourth and fifth in the first heat were Sundons Tiavon and Ronerail, while Billy Royle booked his place in the final as the fastest sixth placegetter.

Inter Dominion Final Field: Sundons Gift, One Over Kenny, Save A Sixpence, Skyvalley, Whatsundermykilt, Conquer All, Will Trapper, Sundons Tiavon, Ella Powell, Ronerail, Billy Royle, False Gem (emerg).