Gary Hall snr has the home-town hero, Im Themightyquinn, the defending champion, primed for the start of the Interdominion at Gloucester Park but still fears the horse that beat him across the line in last year's final, Smoken Up.

Perth's premier trainer got a first-hand look at Smoken Up when he smashed a track record going one minute 51.1 seconds for the 1720 metres at Melton last week and well knows his speed and toughness.

''That was awesome,'' Hall said. ''It blew me away how well he went.

''It has really set up the Interdominion as a two-horse war. It is hard to say that, but if they both get to the final - and they will - it will be one hell of a race. Add in horses like Mr Feelgood and Auckland Reactor and it is going to be a great series.''

The Interdominion returns to its spiritual home of Perth and back to the traditional format of three sets of heats in a week, which will not only find the best horse but the toughest.

Hall believes Im Themightyquinn is at his peak for the series after a couple of devastating wins in Perth's Grand Circuit race last month. ''I thought his win in the WA Pacing Cup was better than the Fremantle Cup, but [the Fremantle] is the one everyone is talking about,'' he said.

''You don't see what he did that night that often. He came from last and had a fairly handy field covered in the length of the back straight.

'' 'Quinny' has always had that ability and he is in great condition at the moment,'' he said.

Hall also played down any concerns Smoken Up might not handle the half-mile track in Perth.

''People are talking about it but, to my mind, he will get around it and will do it easy,'' Hall said. ''A horse like Smoken Up will get on the pegs and fly around Gloucester Park. He will be very hard to run down.''

Hall's The Falcon Strikes ran second to Jofess the last time the series went to Perth.

He would also like to go one better this time and win the Interdominion outright with Im Themightyquinn after getting the victory last year only after Smoken Up had returned a positive swab.

''It is something we missed out on last year [bring presented with the trophy],'' Hall said. ''I think we will keep the win now, but there could be another appeal.

''I guess, being in Perth, it would be very special because he is a crowd favourite and they would go off if he won it,'' Hall said.