THE 2012 Inter Dominion pacing championships got underway at Gloucester Park in Perth on Friday night with the farcical situation that we might know this year’s winner before we can be sure of last year’s winner.

Amazingly we still don’t have a final result for the 2011 series which was “won” by Smoken Up in New Zealand last April.

That “win” was eradicated when Smoken Up returned a positive swab to a substance named as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) which shocked the horses trainer driver Lance Justice.

At the time Justice declared he knew of the substance but had never used it.

However a hearing last August found Justice guilty and apart from having the horse disqualified which resulted in the loss of $400,00 in stakemoney, the trainer/driver was fined $3500 and ordered to pay costs of more than $32,000.

Justice appealed the decision and that hearing was held earlier this month with a decision expected before the 2012 series began but nothing has yet been decided.

While the decision makers in New Zealand are still dilly-dallying with the 2011 result, Smoken Up showed that he will again play a leading role in the 2012 event with his usual win at all costs style  in the third heat at Gloucester Park.

Made to work by Saucy Legend ($4.70) to find the early lead in the 1720 metre event Smoken Up ($1.30 fav.) looked set to be challenged by Dasher Vic ($13.50) at the top of the straight but the champ always had him covered and went to the line 1.6 metres in front.

Dasher Vic    held on for second 3.1 metres ahead of Saucy Legend with Hesa Buzzin ($50.20) running on late for fourth.

Earlier in the night the Kiwis quinellaed the first heat with Auckland Reactor ($2.10) edging past Washakie ($1.70 fav.) in the closing stages to win the first heat by 2 metres.

Auckland Reactor had enjoyed the run of the race while Washakie led but was assassinated by Sneakyn Down Under ($59.80) who pressured him all the way.

Stewards later queried the driver of Sneakyn Down Under on his driving tactics.

The second heat provided the upset for the night when Crombie ($26.50) came from three wide for the last lap to beat Can Return Fire ($49.50) by a head with early leader Rocket Reign ($5.50) a half neck away third.

Among the unplaced runners were Mr Feelgood ($2.80) who worked early and led the outside division before battling on fairly for fourth while the shock of the race was Raglan ($2.30 fav.) finishing an unlucky sixth.

Raglan had enjoyed the run of the race one out, one back but his driver Anthony Butt let himself become boxed in going down the back straight and from there he never got a clear shot at them.

He now faces a tough task to make the final.

The final heat was as expected won by the local champ Im Themightyquinn ($1.30 fav.).

He also sat one out, one back but when the pace stepped up his driver Gary Hall Jr was taking no chances and he pulled out and raced away to win by 5.4 metres from Has The Answers ($4.70) with Son Of Fergie ($40.30) 2.7 metres back in third place.

The runners back up for the second round of the series at Gloucester Park on Monday night by which stage the final field will be close to being decided.

At the same time let’s hope the officials in  New Zealand can also step up and give us a final result for 2011.