The Nagambie trainer-driver has the two to beat in the series _ international Sundons Gift and Skyvalley.

Two $40,000 Inter-Dominion trotting semi-finals will be run on the Ballarat Pacing Cup program at Bray Raceway on Saturday night.

The globetrotting Sundons Gift left no doubt he is at his best with a slashing win in the group two $30,000 Cochran Trotters' Cup, 2690 metres, in Shepparton on Saturday night.

Lang said it was just the performance he wanted to see from the eight-year-old a week out from the series.

"He went very well and the run should improve him," Lang said.

"He hasn't raced for six weeks, so that run will top him off beautifully."

Sundon's Gift is the defending Inter-Dominion champion.

He won a semi-final at the Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting 12 months ago and went on to take out the final before campaigning in Europe.

Stablemate Skyvalley looms a the biggest danger to Sundon Gift in the championship.

Ranked second behind Sundons Gift, Skyvalley had the better of his biggest rival last they met and finished one-two in the group one Bill Collins Sprint at Melton.

Springbank Richard and Sovereignty are set to provide the main challenge from New Zealand.

Although he has only raced in Australia on a handful of occasions, Springbank Richard is well known on this side of the Tasman.

He took out the 2007 Victoria Trotters' Derby at Maryborough.

He was not at his best on a short visit late last year.

Sovereignty is yet to race in Australia.

Other leading contenders include Acacia Ridge, the improving Don King, Galleons Sunset and another New Zealander Snos Big Boy, which two runs ago accounted for the likes of Springbank Richard in the listed Australian Pacing

Gold Trotters Flying Stakes.

Final rankings will be released today.

The field for the group one $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m, will begin to take shape when nominations close today.

The field will be declared on Wednesday.