NEWS ARCHIVE

After all the talk and all the hype, the Australians, and especially Australian, Lance Justice, delivered.

The popular Melbourne horseman might have been suffering from a bad cold during the week and quipped to mates he he might have to blow his nose during the race, but he drove a superb race behind Smoken Up and held out the favourite, Themightyquinn and the Inter Dominion legend, Blacks a Fake with Smiling Shard the first Kiwi home in fourth place.

It was a special celebration for Justice who has campaigned Smoken Up in two New Zealand Cups specialising in splitting up the field but then being run down late in the piece.

Last night he was more reflective. Settling back, he moved around the field sharply half way through the race and seized the lead from Natalie Rasmussen and Blacks a Fake with surprising ease.

"I raced her for a bit but I was always confident of making the front'' he said afterward.

"The race unfolded pretty much as I saw it especially once I got up there to the front''

"Was Themightyquinn going to beat me ? No. He is faster than us but we can go harder further and that got us home''

Lance Justice now joins John Justice as a successful Inter Dominion pacing winner for the family, the former having won on Shakamaker in 2000. However Lance won a Trotting Grand Final with Uncle Petrika in 2007.

Smoken Up's win was a special thrill for his breeders Stan Dunlop and Dennis Monk and their wives Carolyn and Elizabeth. The partnership had no chance to make any capital from their success. Smoken Up's dam, Carnlough Bay, died without leaving another foal.

"We basically couldn't afford to send her to In the Pocket so we went to Tinted Cloud. But we liked his temperament and it has come out in Smoken Up'' Dunlop said.

Smoken Up was sold by Christchurch agent Paul Davies from the Butcher stable to a group of Victorian owners after a light career and has been developed into champion material by Justice.

"He just loves this way round. I was concerned before we came how he would go right-handed but he just loves it. I would say we will back for the Auckland Cup next year'' Justice said.

Themightyquinn, well poised with a round to go three wide with cover looked the winner soon after the turn for home but could now ground down the game Smoken Up. Blacks a Fake, probably not the force of old, stuck on well for third after every chance and Smiling Shard went from three wide to be almost on the rail to gain a smart fourth.

Mr Feelgood tried for the lead but could not get it half way through which told later and the Kiwis had a mixed result.

Brendon Hill thought Power of Tara was a little unlucky and said former star Kiwi pacer Monkey King was not himself.

"Ricky is still not happy with the way he is going around the corners. He is just not himself. I don't think he is over the hill or anything. Just not right. He will be back'' Hill said.

Smoken Up ran the 2700m mobile in 3:17.27 the last mile in 1:57.6 the 800m in 55.3 and the 400m in 27.9, the winner beautifully rated to hold out such a talented field.

If you wondered why Mark Purdon flourished his whip passing the post as I Can Doosit upset the favourite in the $250,000 Dream With Me Inter Dominion Trotting Final at Alexandra Park there was more than one reason.

The main one was that after a horror few weeks in which star pacers Auckland Reactor and Sleepy Tripp were ruled out of their chance in the pacers $800,000 final, Purdon had produced another masterly training and driving effort with I Can Doosit whose stocks had slumped after he was run down by Let Me Thru and others in the second heat last week.

Another one was a comment by Chris Lang jnr driver of Let Me Thru the warm favourite during a pre-race introduction of the drivers in the final.

"He said to me he hoped I ran a good second'' Mark said.

That might have been the case if Let Me Thru had had any softer run than the blitzing he received after running around to lead in the middle stages, but Springbank Richard contested the lead. Let Me Thru fought him off in the straight but the late run from the beautifully driven I Can Doosit was too much.

It was Mark Purdon's fourth Inter Dominion Trotting Final success as a trainer but only his second as a driver after Pride of Petite's first victory in the mid 1990's. He drove Mark Hanover to win the pacing final at Alexandra Park in 1991.He felt it was good to be back.

"I wasn't unhappy with him coming through the series and I said that. He has come on with each race and really pleased me this week. It might have looked worse than it was when he was run down in the second heat. He had done some work, was still on the up and he has always been at his best when he doesn't have to do too much work in the race.

I Can Doosit settled back but got a nice drag into the race when Raydon improved wide on the last round.

"I knew he would probably carry us into it so I was keeping an eye out for him'' Mark said.

I Can Doosit is raced by Breckon Racing, headed by Ken Breckon of the host Auckland Trotting Club who has made a big investment in the breeding and racing of horses in recent years, partly fired by the early death of his brother, a keen enthusiast.

"He will head for the Rowe Cup now'' said Purdon who is off to Sydney early on Saturday to drive Russley Rascal, Hands Christian and Im Living the Dream in engagements at Menangle.

Let Me Thru was as game as could be for second considering the last 800m was cut out in 57.1 and the 400m in 27.9. It was only in the final stages he succumbed and he was far from disgraced.

"I got to him but he fought back'' Mark Purdon said.

Stylish Monarch, which led and then trailed Sovereignty held third.

Highview Tommy -

Perhaps it was the special message from part-owner and his greatest fan, Hazel Van Opzeeland, just before the race. Perhaps it was the extra work Mark Purdon had put into him during the week. Whatever it was for Highview Tommy it worked.

On Friday night after two ordinary heat runs which drove his connections to despair he regained his enthusiasm in the NRM NZ Inter Dominion Pacing Consolation. Even though it was a big drop in class compared to running against horses like Blacks a Fake it was his attitude that impressed driver, Blair Orange.

"Yes, it was a bit easier all right. But while he felt just as good in the running as he had in the heats when he felt fine but didn't kick on, tonight he stuck his arse down and went like he meant it when he had to''

Highview Tommy had given Mark Purdon palpitations in the last few weeks.

"He has done everything right. He has worked well, eaten up good, done everything by the book but just not kicked on when it was necessary. We did a few things different during the week but nothing major. The drop in class has to be taken into account''

Highview Tommy has been a wonderful performer for Hazel and Glenys and Phil Kennard who have been loyal travelers from Christchurch to watch his heat runs.

"Mark has just told us he has been doing everything right each time and he has been. It was good to see him do it on the track'' Phil said.

Raglan got up to edge Captain Joy, the pacemaker out of third placing after the Australian had had things his own way and turned the race into a straight sprint home.

Annicka-

It wasn't quite a fairy tale ending but it was a feel good story anyway.

Annicka set the daunting task of travelling from Sweden to New Zealand via quarantine in England where she only had the run of a paddock, failed to make the Inter Dominion Trotting Final which was a disappointment to anyone with affection for a class trotter.

But she atoned on Friday coming off a perfect trail to win the Consolation. It was only by a neck but for her connections it was worth tens of thousands of kilometres.

They had a 35 hour flight to New Zealand to watch the mare race and trainer Jorgen Westholm went through a crash course of driving, New Zealand style. But he learned quickly.

Annicka stripped a much fitter looking horse in the Consolation giving rise to the suggestion had she had the chance of more racing before the series the tale could have indeed ended in fairyland.

“It has been a great experience. We could well be back again for a meeting like this '' Westholm said.

While much of the speculation regarding tonight's Sky Casino Inter Dominion pacing final centres around what happens up front early, it may not be the most important factor in the race.

The question as to whether Natalie Rasmussen will attempt to hold the front with BLACKS A FAKE or allow SMOKEN UP to take control is one of the many absorbing aspects of tonight's $800,000 final. But the lead could be a poisoned chalice.

Some horses are good enough to overcome everything but over the years in major races at Alexandra Park, pace setters have proved vulnerable as late as 50m from the finish.

A good example occurred in the second Trotters heat last week when I Can Doosit, some of his resources spent getting into a good position to challenge, looked to have the heat won even 60m out only to be swamped by a bunch of big finishes.

It is all the more marked at Alexandra Park because in supporting races good horses regularly lead up and hold on to win. But it is not often the case in the top drawer staying events.

The challenges usually come from the inside half of the track where horses who have spent much of the race locked up on the fence often get clear earlier than in other races. Many will remember Play On storming home along the rail to win an Inter Dominion trotting final or Gotta Go Cullen zooming home from what seemed an impossible position to win the Auckland Cup. In the 1983 Inter Dominion at Auckland Popular Alm only had to hang on to the lead around to the corner to win the final but late in the piece Gammalite got up on his inside and beat him. There are many other examples of late challengers swamping the leaders.

This could be accentuated tonight if Lance Justice has Smoken Up in a position to throw down the gauntlet 400-500 metres out as he did in the second heat.

Justice has a history of blowing the field wide open well before the end of the race. He has done it in the New Zealand Cup and he has done it at Auckland. In Australia it can be a race winning tactic. In New Zealand it tends to increase thge chances of a number of his rivals.

Gaps appear in the field when Justice charges and gives horses otherwise looking for a run the biggest break of their careers.

It is the Justice style and it often works. But it hasn't on this side of the Tasman yet.

It was the same with Vinny Knight and Popular Alm in 1983. The pacemaker could always outsprint Grammalite and if driven quietly around the corner and then accelerate dthere was no way the tough stayer Gammalite could outsprint the brilliant Popular Alm. Vinny chose to go before the home turn instead -he said it was because he wanted to drive Popular Alm, who had trouble with the right handed final corner hard into it-and it cost him the race.

If Smoken Up is in control at vital stages of the race-and he may be outside Blacks a Fake instead-any breaking up of the field is only going to aid his main rivals especially THEMIGHTYQUINN with his huge final bursts.

Blacks a Fake hanging on to the front if hotly challenge dwill likewise make things difficult for him. He is possibly not quite the horse he was but even if he was leading all the way in a Group One race at Alexandra Park is statistically unlikely.

There is hope in the Kiwi camp that the Australians adopting cut throat tactics will defeat each other and leave the race at the mercy of a New Zealand horse such as SMILING SHARD.

The problem with the theory is that the Aussies have three types of horses looming in the final-the grinders like Blacks a Fake and Smoken Up: the versatility of MR FEELGOOD and the blinding speed of Themightyquinn.

The other ruling theory which could prove incorrect is that Themightyquinn is simply a speed horse as he has shown rather spectactularly during this carnival.

Mark Purdon, who will not have a drive in the race after Sleepy Tripp's withdrawal on Friday, has seen another side of him.

"They say he can't rough it and still finish off. But I saw him win the Perth Cup and it was as tough a performance as you would see from anything else in this field. He is more than just a sit and sprint horse''

For much of this week Mark Purdon and Grant Payne have had their fingers crossed the stable's pacing star, Sleepy Tripp, would make it through the week ok but on Friday the dream was over, what is suspected to be muscle soreness meaning his withdrawal from the $800,000. It was a blow for owners Terry and Adrienne Taylor and a double whammy for All Stars who lost Auckland Reactor out of the series just before it started.

Sleepy Tripp's attendant, Jan Payne, noticed he was favouring a leg first thing early in the week but he warmed up without any problems. It was the same on Tuesday and on Wednesday he warmed up well in his prelim. Before working to Mark's satisfaction. Suspicion was still lurking but he looked ok.

However on Thursday he did not warm up so well.

"He actually got worse after a time. I called in (veterinarian) Ivan Bridge and he advised to work him Friday morning and see if there was any improvement after inspection and treatment'' Mark said.

There wasn't and All Stars's last hope of winning the big prize has gone.

Sleepy Tripp had been a little off his game during his trip to the Hunter Cup and on his return but was training up well and went his best race in a good while in the second heat making ground well on a hot final quarter. Mark had been confident he would bely his long odds with the bookmakers.

But it was not to be.

(Courtesy All Star Stables website)

LUKE McCARTHY PREVIEWS FINALS

At the outset of the Inter Dominion series Luke McCarthy said that when it came to the $800,000 final the draw would be crucial. He still believes that to be the case but he doesn't believe two bad marbles for Mr Feelgood and Washakie can prevent the McCarthy stables from winning the big one.

"The draw brings Blacks a Fake right into it. He is going to have control and not do the work. It doesn't take our horses out of it but it just makes it a bit harder. But Mr Feelgood and Washakie are both really good in themselves so maybe we can over come it. We can't do anything about it so we will have to''

However one story the young Queenslander would like to lay to rest is that Mr Feelgood was disappointing in his heat last week.

"I wasn't disappointed with the horse. I was a bit disappointed with my drive'' Luke said.

"But I was also in a difficult postion. Usually I would have been pouring on some pressure from further out but with a couple of sprinters on my back I wanted to hang on as long as possible. As it was we ran home in 27.7 and we still weren't going top at the quarter. I can't hold out Themightquinn in a short sprint like that. But that is not likely to happen this time''

McCarthy blames himself for Washakie's run. "I couldn't get out when I wanted to and Dexter (Dunn) was entitled to hold us in but I would have liked to have been out and going a lot earlier''

"Washakie is a bit underrated and he can back up good. He went a 1:50.5 mile then ran in the Miracle Mile and then next time won the Treur Memorial. But the draw is against him''

In Australia Luke concedes that Mr Feelgood's races are kept at least two weeks apart and having four in four weeks starting with his terrific run in the Auckland Cup raises question marks for some form students. Luke is not convinced.

"Yes we like to keep him fresh but he backed up into the Victoria Cup and went a terrific race there. That doesn't really bother me''

The importance of the draw is summed up by Luke when it comes to rating the oppostion.

"I am saying Blacks a Fake but if Smoken Up had draw gate two I would have said he was the horse to beat and if Themightyquinn had drawn two I would have said he was the one to beat. I am disappointed because I wanted to be out there early doing a bit of dictating and now I've got to rely on a bit more luck to get through''

"But the horses are up to it. I am extremely happy with them. It is up to us now''

ANTHONY BUTT SUMS UP THE RIVALS

When it comes to talking about the outcome of big races, especially when they are Inter Dominions, Anthony Butt is a man worth listening to.

He is the only driver in the $800,000 Pacers Final on Friday who has driven the winners of both pacing and trotting final winners and he handles CHOISE ACHIEVER in a bid for a third pacing final tomorrow. But his observations on the Australian runners are just as interesting.

"Choise Achiever has done well this week. We were pleased with his work on Wednesday. He went a good race in the first heat and he had a couple of little issues before the second heat which have cleared up.''

"I am not sure that his draw is as good as they say. He is going to have to do some work to get a slot somehwere around them. It might be a year too soon for him but he has done really well to get to the final and this is what we have set him for. He will go a good race''

The horse to beat ?

"Its Blacks a Fake's race to lose as I see it. He is going to get to the front for sure and whatever happens he is not going to have to do the work the other favourites will have to. There is a question whether he is quite as good as he used to be but to me that is balanced by the draw. Normally I don't worry too much about draws in big races. You can get sucked in thinking about them. But his marble is a definite bonus and I think it could make the difference''

Anthony's observation of MR FEELGOOD is interesting considering he has already won an Inter Dominion (2009) with him when he was trained by Tim Butt. How does Anthony sum up the veteran's chances from a distance ?

"My main concern with him is the three runs back to back leading into the final. Luke has done a great job with him by keeping him a bit fresh and spacing his races. I just wonder if the backing up he has done since the Auckland Cup could be a factor. I thought he was entitled to win the second night and Themightyquinn ran past him pretty easy.''

Is there a chance the Australians, which so much firepower, could conspire to beat each other and themselves ?

"Yes for sure. We have seen it happen before. The driving is a bit different on our tracks and you have to take that into account. I don't think anyone is just going to be able to fight everyone off and still win it and there is a question of Themightyquinn if he can't save up for that last run.''

"That is why I like Blacks a Fake. Natalie knows him well and is going to do the least work and he has had a nice buildup. He would be the Aussie I would be most worried about''

THE FINALS-HOW WE SEE THEM

SKY CITY INTERDOMINION PACING FINAL $800,000 8.50 PM

1 CAPTAIN PEACOCK (19-9-3 $210,513) $61

FOR: Has landed ace draw. Nice trail and good finish first night. AGAINST: Awful second night when things went wrong. Looks outgunned by some of the top ones here. Essentially a sit and sprint horse and might get the shuffle . SUM UP: Win would be huge surprise. Place possible if leaders hold places and he is handy pegs.

2 BLACKS A FAKE (99-69-21 $5,18m) $4

FOR: An Inter Dominion legend with a dream draw. Had two nice lead up heat runs for older horse and ready to bloom. Sharp and astute trainer-driver AGAINST: Some, even trainer-driver, have doubts he still has the peak run in him but the legend suggests he has. Front runners vulnerable late in big races on this track. SUM UP: Looks a lead-up trail scenario or working off to do it the hard way-the way he likes it. Too great a horse to risk.

3 PEMBROOK BENNY (50-13-15 $405,481) $101

FOR: Ideal draw and has the gate speed to capitalise. Both heat runs sound. AGAINST: Lacks the class to win a Pacing grand final on past history. SUM UP: Could make a First Four from this marble because should get a good trip from here.

4 CHOISE ACHIEVER (16-10-4 $128,246 ) $61

FOR: Nice marble, bold run first heat, champion Inter Dom driver, trainer a gun too. Had excuse second night. AGAINST: Possibly a year too soon as connections suspect. Might not be able to work hard and beat some of these. SUM UP: Has more ability than quite a few of these and a surprise packet for multi punters.

5 CAPTAIN JOY (e2) (40-19-9 $980,573) $101 F

OR: Surprise hit of the second round of heats. AGAINST: Needs two scratchings and that unlikely hence the price. SUM UP: Looks a lay down in the Consolation but not here.

6 SMILING SHARD (39-16-16 $998,982) $15

FOR: Outstanding run after working hard in second heat. No real chance to show his best on first night. Has measured up to top ones before. Tough as. More experienced than some seem to think. AGAINST: Still only a four year old and not a big horse. Will have to work hard early from here. SUM UP: Possibly best New Zealand chance, especially with early luck. Each way chance.

7 VILLAGEM (53-21-17 $652,203) $61

FOR: Eye catching run in first heat and had a terrible run in the second. Former Chariots of Fire winner and still on the up. AGAINST: Woeful draw. “New chum'' drive in the second heat suggested lack of local experience a factor. SUM UP: Good enough to be in the first four -but is he lucky enough ?

8 MONKEY KING (84-38-23 $3.438m) $14

FOR: Reigning Grand Circuit champion, not a bad run second heat. Has the x factor. Driver a killer factor in big races. AGAINST: Not racing as he can especially right handed. Draw is a major handicap. SUM UP: A great race is still lurking within him. Hard to risk in multiples.

9 POWER OF TARA (90-19-22 $669,742) $31

FOR: Grand staying horse well suited to this sort of race. Able to work and win. Rejuvenated this season. AGAINST: Terrible draw for staying horse inside of second row. Could end up near last on the rails. SUM UP: A place chance if he had drawn anywhere but here.

10 SMOKEN UP (91-46-32 $2.239m) $4.20

FOR: Iron horse probably as good as he has ever been in his career. Super lead up form. Draw better than it looks. AGAINST: Will be vulnerable late over this trip on this track if he has to work hard in the running- as has happened to him at Addington. SUM UP: Coolly driven can win this but won't be able to beat them all off and still hold on. Deserves to win though and can.

11 MR FEELGOOD (94-32-27 $3.754m) $4.50

FOR: One of the greatest seen in Australasia in recent years. Great run in Auckland Cup and adequate in heats. Will be set for this. Huge record in the races that count. AGAINST: Draw makes his task difficult but could work out for the best. The veteran of many battles. SUM UP: Is, and likely to be at race time, at false odds. This is the race he has been set for. Put him in.

12 SLEEPY TRIPP (42-12-14 $732,749) $51

FOR: One of the best stayers in New Zealand. Heat runs have been better than they seem. Peaked for this by experts. Big run against Australian stars in Victoria Cup earlier. AGAINST: Sometimes a touch below the really top ones if he has to work in a race. SUM UP: At ridiculous odds on New Zealand and Victoria Cup runs. At his best probably first Kiwi home.

13 FRANCO JAMAR (E1) (30-12-7 $167,413) $101

FOR: Has raced well through the heats. AGAINST: Ballotted. SUM UP: Odds are long because he is unlikey to get a start-and unlikely to win if he does.

14 WASHAKIE (88-32-23 $1.287m) $26

FOR: Tough as teak yet has brilliant speed. Best is good enough to get into the finish. AGAINST: Shocking draw for his style of racing. Might lack the ability to overcome it with big work in the race. SUM UP: With good draw would have been upset factor. Set a tough task now.

15 THEMIGHTYQUINN (70-29-24 $1,984m) $3.50

FOR: Superb in heats. Blistering speed has annihilated rivals. Thriving on the racing. Late sprints often win big races on this track. AGAINST: Had soft runs and won't get one from this draw without a lot of luck. Odds short considering draw. SUM UP: Undoubtedly the form horse of the meeting but if he has to work mid race will be vulnerable.

SELECTIONS:

Themightyquinn
Smoken Up

Mr Feelgood

Blacks a Fake

Best Kiwi: Sleepy Tripp.

TROTTING GRAND FINAL $250,000 8.30 PM FRIDAY

1 BEAT THE MONARCH (58 starts-7 wins 15 placings $78,224) $101

FOR: Has the ace draw. AGAINST: Got a soft run in first heat to qualify, tested in this company. SUM UP: At 100/1 with the bookmakers and that says it all.

2 GREAT GETAWAY (32-8-12 $81,319) $51

FOR: Nice draw to get soft trip. Gone good races in heats. AGAINST: With every chance has ended up about three lengths from the good ones. SUM UP: That his biggest problem but could place.

3 SOVEREIGNTY (44-20-15 $506,256) $4.50

FOR: Has draw to dictate. In top form. On home track. AGAINST: Got a bit keen on the second night. Prefers things his way SUM UP: Probably the best Kiwi chance to win and has hit peak at right time.

4 STYLISH MONARCH (39-15-16 $371,612) $11

FOR: Gone two terrific runs in heats especially second night. In career best form. Proven at this level. Right driver for the big occasion. Should get a nice trip from here. AGAINST: Yet to win on this track though latest efforts have been much more likely. SUM UP: A great each way bet and could easily win this. Value.

5 READY SET (27-7-4 $37,691) $151

FOR: In the acceptances, likes to lead. AGAINST: Unlikely to get a start and little hope if she does. SUM UP: Better bet in the Consolation.

6 DANNY CASH (65-16-20 $180,656) $61

FOR: Got home strongly, 2len Let Me Thru, in final heat with better draw. Has a nice one here. Peaking at right time. AGAINST: Not proven against the calibre of some in this field. SUM UP: Now adjusted to right handed track and an upset threat. Great place value.

7 SPRINGBANK RICHARD (53-19-8 $576,579) $7.50

FOR: Terrific run home second heat, equal to winner given earlier problems. Consistently the best around locally when at his peak. Should get a trip from here. AGAINST: Can do things wrong in tight quarters. Prefers to sit and sprint so reliant on some luck. SUM UP: Can easily win and probably at false odds. Keep very safe.

8 MASTER BOMBER (44-10-13 $127,090) $61

FOR: Been solid in heats. Improved horse and still getting better. AGAINST: Had two dream trips in heats from cosy draws and drawn wide out here. Prefers to lead and trail. SUM UP: Set stiff task from this draw with speed inside him. Place best.

9 DR HOOK (44-8-5-$108,975) $18

FOR: In form. Has proven here he is up with the best with right run. Nice lead up run in second heat. AGAINST: Has the draw from hell behind $101 shot. That could be the end of the penny section. SUM UP: Really needs to be in front to win and hard to see how he will get there.

10 LLEYTON H (111-17-17-$207,512) $151

FOR: Went a big race in second heat finishing in the bunch. AGAINST: Drawn behind a $51 shot and want early luck. Media have trouble spelling his name. SUM UP: Win would be biggest upset since Custer's last stand. Place would be a shock too.

11 RAYDON (32-10-8 $126,749) $17

FOR: Hit peak at exactly right time in Purdon fashion. Top run second heat working hard. On home track. Drawn behind Sovereignty which will go fast early. Ace driver AGAINST: Not a lot except for bad luck. SUM UP: Has a great record here and looks poised to be major threat.

12 KYVALLEY MAC (e1) (97-12-31 $164,684) $101

FOR: First night break was first race right handed. Sound second night. AGAINST: The member of the visiting Lang stable nobody takes much notice of. Unlikely to get in. SUM UP: Has a show in the Consolation.

13 I CAN DOOSIT (28-14-16 $300,729) $7

FOR: Improved with each run through the series. Lacks sharp gate speed so second line draw suits. Peaking at right time in expert hands. Better right handed. Right up with the best locals. AGAINST: Not as brilliant as some here though strong. SUM UP: Win would not surprise and will be at false odds on his record over the last six months. Great value.

14 LET ME THRU (26-19-3 $510,256) $2 FOR: The stunner of the series. Tough stayer but produced brilliant sprint on second night. Unbeaten in three on the track. Confident driver. AGAINST: Tricky draw. Won't find it easy to get around the locals. Confident driver not experienced as some. SUM UP: Looks the winner but odds are way too short in a trotting race with a full field.

15 LETS GET SERIOUS (135-38-33 $786, 715) $61

FOR: Won more races and money than anything else in the field. Heat runs much better than they seem. Still on the up after coming back from the States for the series. AGAINST: Perhaps not quite as confident on right handed tracks. Never raced that way before now. Unruly position no help either. SUM UP: Has trotted solidly when left alone right through the series. Can get some money at any old price.

SELECTIONS

LET ME THRU

I CAN DOOSIT

RAYDON

STYLISH MONARCH

Pacing final to follow.

New Zealand pacing superstar, Monkey King, is undergoing some chiropractic work this week to help his handling of the bends at Alexandra Park in the $800,000 Sky Casino Inter Dominion Pacing Final on Friday.

Monkey King, who has dominated on both sides of the Tasman in big races in the last two years, has been something of an enigma during the series racing at what most would say was below his usual level.

Trainer Brendon Hill is a little nonplussed himself though happy with the condition of both the Monkey and Power of Tara. What has stunned him is the double whammy of bad draws for the pair. Monkey King drew the outside of the front line and Power of Tara the inside of the second behind Captain Peacock perhaps the horse in the field with the least gate speed.

“It looks like he is going to be last at some part of it '' Hill said.

“We just have to hope we can get off the rail and play a part''

Hill is somewhat stunned by his fortunes with the barrier draw.

“I am going to leave Monkey King's run just up to Ricky (May). Forward or back it will be up to him but I suppose going back is the more likely option from out there. But mate, the way the luck has been, you don't know what will happen.''

Hill said Monkey King is not handling the bends at Alexandra Park as well as he has done in the recent past which has led to the manipulation work.

“You can't do a lot for it in a week and we are not changing any gear on him. It is just an option we had to take''

“He used to hang quite badly up here when Steven Reid had him but he had been better recently''

Monkey King is slipping out of betting calculations for the Final but that might be premature. He went a nice race for his placing in the second heat after enjoying the run of the race which was a better effort than his previous outing.

“We know he's good enough if he gets an even break with them. But that draw makes it tough''

Hill said.

Who does he see as the horse to beat ?

“Blacks a Fake looks to come right into it to me. A great horse. He has two nice lead ups really and has the draw with some options. Smoken Up is flying and seems better this way round and Themightyquinn has terrifice speed. Terrific. Then we have beaten them before. A bit of luck would be real nice right now.''

Blacks a Fake is the only pacer from outside North America to have become the world's richest standardbred, a title he currently holds with winnings of more than $5.1m. That is largely because he has won four of the last five Inter Dominion Pacing Finals in Australia and is now trying for his fifth in Auckland in the series currently run by the Addington-based New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club because of the earthquake. No other horse has won more than three ,and there is only one of them in a series stretching back over 70 years.

Blacks a Fake is an Australian racing legend. He is 10 years old, showed absolutely no ability when first trained, was off the scene for two years with injury and in the life threatening 2007 equine influenza virus which swept through Australia he was one of the first pacers in Queensland to catch it. Twice in the last 10 months he has suffered from heart fibrillation. In between all that he was won 69 of his 98 starts.

But this feisty old pacer is no more resilient than his remarkable trainer driver, Natalie Rasmussen.

Rasmussen, 33, has spent a lifetime with horses and while a pleasant and popular personality does not suffer politically correct fools gladly.

A New Zealand horseman relates that when a Melbourne journalist approached her in 2008 as Blacks a Fake was about to win his third Inter Dom final and started asking whether as the only woman she was intimidated by all the males in the field her response was brief and brutal.

She suggested the reporter attempt something anatomically impossible. End of interview.

At the moment she is disillusioned with Queensland harness racing administration which uses a model thoroughbred leaders tried (and failed) ;to introduce to New Zealand as One Racing.

“Its just chaos'' said Rasmussen who has taken out a thoroughbred licence because of the future of harness racing in her home state and has already trained a winner, Abu Dhabi Gold, from four starters.

“The system doesn't work, the Racing Minister isn't interested in us and it is all going down the drain. I don't think he will be happy until there is no harness racing at all ''

Did she mind being quoted ?

“Get right up them'' was her response.

If Natalie Rasmussen knows the ins and outs of racing and has no truck with sexism she has also overcome her share of challenges.

Her father, Vic, moved from Victoria to Townsville in the 1970's and battled away for years with an average stable though he and Bill Dixon set Queensland records as drivers. Dixon was even the national premiership winner (154 wins) in 1977. His son, Grant, also a top driver, is now Rasmussen's partner.

Rasmussen whose two sisters are also drivers or trainers, posted her first win with Alamo Boy in 1993 and had driven 154 winners when she was involved in a serious race smash in 2000.

“It was a chain reaction'' she said at the time with masterly understatement “when I couldn't move I thought I must be in a bit of bother''

In fact she was away from racing for two years with torn sacroillac ligaments which “still give me hell at times''. She runs 8km a day herself six times a week and her horses don't lack for exercise either.

Soon after returning, in 2002, she inherited Blacks a Fate to train. A local breeder, Ron Pointer, gave Vic Rasmussen three geldings to try and Natalie was handed two of them, the other being Marksplace.

“Blacks a Fake was the slowest of them though he had showed me a little bit of speed as a late two year old. But he couldn't get it all together. Then he was hurt and out for 17 months''

It was a different Blacky which returned beating everything around in fast times. But that he has got through to being a ten year old tough racing and still matching the best is a huge tribute to Rasmussen's care and planning. The horse has endeared himself to the racing public with his “never say die'' efforts in front or parked outside the leader, fighting off wave after wave of challengers.

Rasmussen and Dixon have a 30ha property at Tamborine near Brisbane featuring a barn 100m long built with excess railway steel framing. To service that property in failing financial times for local harness racing, she has turned to thoroughbreds.

“When Blacky is retired I will be training more of them because of the situation in Queensland '' she said.

Once again she had to be tough under pressure. Her first galloper, the appropriately named Dual Code, ran second first up and then broke a shoulder in a race and had to be put down. Rasmussen was travelling with Blacks a Fake, but for once her composure was threatened.

“I watched it and I am very upset'' an emotional Rasmussen told the media “But I'll be ok. I'm alright''

Her mixture of honesty, glamour, exceptional horse sense and straight talking has made her something of a legend herself.

Blacks a Fake is safely into his sixth Inter Dominion final (another record) and while Natalie with typical frankness said “I don't think he can win the final'' before the second heat that run and the barrier draw have changed the picture. As rival trainer, Brendon Hill, said midweek “If he wins they will pull the stand down won't they ?

Even if Blacky does he still won't be the only legend from Tamborine in the Australian horse racing world.

Some material first published in The Press Christchurch April 2 2011

Barrier draws were the talking point of the Sky City Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Finals after Monday night's “selections'' with everything from cries that the Kiwis had done an “underarm'' on the all conquering Aussie visitors to some glimmer of hope a New Zealander has a chance of pulling off the pacing final.

Mark Purdon, who has three runners in both races wasn't getting caught up in the hype and in fact by the time he had reached Ashburton to drive on Tuesday had not even studied them.

“I was told we are following Choise Achiever out with Sleepy Tripp but I haven't confirmed it'' he said with typical understatement.

There are some very good reasons for the Purdon approach.

For one thing Lets Get Serious is on the unruly and everyone knew that, especially Mark Purdon who requested he be put on it. Blair Orange takes the drive on Friday.

“I really wish we could have got another couple of starts into him. He has been good right through and better with every run''

For another thing Purdon thinks a second line draw might help his best trotting chance, I Can Doosit.

“He doesn't really like rushing out of the gate and getting up to top speed straight away. He is better with a chance to settle and from there he will certainly have a chance to settle''

Then there is the Purdon history in the Inter Dominion finals held at Alexandra Park.

His first drive ,in 1991, was on Mark Hanover. He drew nine and was not considered a leading chance before the draw and certainly not afterward. But he won.

In 1999 there was a slightly bizarre 3200m mobile final. The Purdon drive,Young Rufus drew 11. In 2005 when he drove Bogan Fella into third place from barrier 14. So Sleepy Tripp going from gate 12 this year is more or less par for the course.

Mark has long taken a fatalistic approach to draws.

“You always want a good one but there is nothing you can do about them. Sometimes thinking too much about what will happen from the draw works against you. You have to be flexible and take it from the start and make the best of it. Too much thinking and you can lose that flexibility''

So what role have the draws played in previous pacing finals under modern conditions ?

The answer is enough to give many people hope.

Elsu drew seven in 2005 and the same gate won the 3200m final in 1999. When Mark Hanover won from nine in 1991 he beat Christopher Vance which drew 13, Franco Ice which drew 12 and Inky Lord which drew 14.

Many have believed from day one of this series that the draw for the final was vital. But with several lesser lights with the best draws we still don't know which draw is best.

That is why Mark Purdon sleeps better than some of his rivals.

Natalie Rasmussen seems resigned to the great Blacks A Fake settling for a minor placing in the Sky City Inter Dominion on Friday night whatever the draw but her rivals will not be taking him lightly.

The veteran has had two perfect buildup runs toward the Final for a horse with a somewhat interrupted preparation and one can't help feeling the Inter Dominion legend he has created might not yet be over.

If he does he will still only have equalled the remarkable New Zealand pacer of the 1950's,. Captain Sandy, who won the 1953 final in Perth when 10 years old after he had been retired in New Zealand. He competed in two more championships. In 1953 he had crossed the Nullabor from Melbourne to Perth (after a trip from Adelaide) in a single horse float towed by Dinny Nolan's truck, in temperatures around 40 degrees. That was a trip of 2400 kilometres through some of the toughest country in the world-and when Captain Sandy got to Perth he proved the toughest on the track as well.

Captain Sandy, who won his first race at Winton and his second at the the Wingatui galloping track in 19 47 was the first horse to win two Inter Dominion finals (he had also won in 1950) and in modern times he would have had a participation record to equal Blacky's. He competed at five Inter Dominions his first one at eight years of age, and, but for having been based in New Zealand, would probably have been in at least one more.

His career was a strange story. In his third season of racing he suddenly bloomed and won nine races .He won two Auckland Cups here for lessee and trainer, Jock Bain, and the Inter Dominion final of 1950 (he also qualified for the final in 1951 , won again in 1953 and competed in 1954 and 1955) yet he was always considered a little below the superstars of the time here. Bain ultimately gave up on him and two other trainers did as well. Eventually Nolan bought him on the recommendation of Johnny Johnston who stood the horse's sire Sandydale, at stud near Oamaru. Captain Sandy was then nine and changed hands for $1100.

His win ratio was nothing like Blacks a Fake. Between his two Inter Dominion final wins he didn't win a single race. Nor did he ever win an Inter Dominion heat. Yet at the end of his career , afer winning the inaurual running of Australia's richest race outside the Inter Dominions, the Easter Cup in Sydney he had the Australian record for stakes earned in any code, just as Blacks a Fake does now, in spite of the higher stakes paid to thoroughbred stars. This record was eventually beaten by the champion galloper Hydrogen.

Blacks a Fake's career is winding down at 10 years . Captain Sandy had three more seasons on the racetrack to come at that age. He may not have been as good as Blacks A Fake but he was more than a match for him when it came to toughness.

No doubt about it. Smoken Up is a star and his director Lance Justice is Oscar material.

Horse and driver set the Inter Dominion heats alight at Alexandra Park on Friday responding to a series of attacks on his front running tactics by burning them off and then going clear 500m to show his rivals what they are up against in the $800,000 final next Friday. It was easily the most spectacular heat of the series and, as is so often the case, Smoken Up played the leading role.

They ran 2.38.8, one tenth of a second outside the national record. He ran his last mile in 1:56.8, scorched the first part of a half in 56.8 and walked home in 29.1 but by that time he had broken their hearts.

Lance was offhand about his astonishing tactics when most were perhaps doing only enough to win on the way to the final.

"He had done well during the week and needed that. I wanted to see if he could go hard and then run a strong half'' Justice said.

Smoken Up hung early and took him to assume control as Luke McCarthy made a surprise bid for the front with Washakie. Power of Tara , Smiling Shard and Franco Jamar also had turns attacking before Justice tired of the fame and set his motoring machine alight.

Smoken Up and Themightyquinn therefore became the only two pacers with the full complement of 20 points. Many will be betting they may also fight out the final next week.

What can be bet with confidence is that even if he goes down, Smoken Up will go down after a huge fight.

Smiling Shard earned a final spot and Power of Tara did also turning in another incredibly tough performance.

The sheer mathematics of Annicka's historic trip from Sweden to New Zealand for the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships worked against her right through and most cruelly at the end when she failed to gain enough points to make the trotting final.

Annicka was sent to the front in the fourth trotting heat by trainer Jorgen Westholm and he declined to hand up to I Can Doosit with a round to go. She was battling at the turn and faded quickly in the run home.

"I would like to lead if I can get there'' Westholm said before the race.

Annicka had some major hurdles to success on the trip which tended to be minimised in the excitement of having a European trotter at the carnival.

She spent several weeks in quarantine in England in restriced quarters meaning she could only be ridden and was again quarantined in New Zealand.

Though here in pleny of time in theory, her connections deliberately kept her out of trials and races so she would be fresh for three back to back runs during the Interdominions. In addition she had to get used to a right handed way of going, a different cart, and a different style of racing.

While her best condition is not known here, the compact mare seemed a little light in condition to local eyes which could have reflected the rigours of the trip in spite of the best efforts of her expert handlers.

The race was won in astonishing fashion by the trotting find of the Australasian season, Let Me Thru, which showed a new arrow for his bow when he came from third last to beat Springbank Richard, also well back, in 2:44.92 the last 800m in 58.8 off the front though the last 400m was one of the slowest of the night at 29.4.

"He was huge tonight'' said driver Chris Lang junior. "He's wound up now He's a champion''

When asked about the draw he was less concerned than many rival drivers will be next week

"One to five ideally but the rest can work itself out''

Blacks A Fake was never in doubt of making another bid for the history books, reserving his place in his sixth Inter Dominion final finishing second to Smoken Up.

He shared the record of five finals with the great little U Scott pacer, Caduceus, one of the immortals of New Zealand harness racing. Now he holds it alone.

"I don't think he can win the final. There are a few too many great horses here and he is a ten year old. But he will be even better for the race next week'' said the remarkably successful Rasmussen whose handling of Blacks A Fake has played such a crucial part in his amazing career.

The sensational withdrawal of Sundon's Gift after he failed to warm up to Chris Lang snr's liking and tied up afterward was not the end of the drama in the first trotting heat at the Sky and Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion meeting at Alexandra Park on Friday won by Raydon and giving Tony Herlihy a record 36th win at an Inter Dominion carnival

After Sundon's Gift scratching a false start saw the American-owned Lets Get Serious dispatched to the suicide outside gate over 2200m and the leader's task made easier for Ready Set but not a lot of what followed was predictable.

When the odds- on favourite Sovereignty got up outside the pacemaker with a round to go and then ran to the front it looked curtains for his rivals.But following him around was Raydon who had looked the big improver for the second round and with the maestro Tony Herlihy in the cart and he put the issue beyond doubt with surprising ease over the concluding stages even though running 2:44.8 for the trip.

"He is coming right at the right time'' Herlihy said

"He is a tractable horse and he can do a bit of work which makes him a good chance if he gets the right run next week''

"He was always travelling good outside Sovereignty and he did what he had to do''

Sovereignty was a touch disappointing by his own high standards but Stylish Monarch went another enormous race for second and Lets Get Serious who was forced to make as many runs as some Black Caps went a burster for fourth after being shifted out to the outside for causing a false start.

The exciting part about backing racehorses besides backing winners is finding that the best laid plans can always go astray.

The third pacing heat was supposed to be an end to end romp for Mr Feelgood from the ace draw over 2200m with Monkey King trailing and hopefully running second and The Mightyquinn trying to drop in third on the pegs but unable to pull back Mr Feelgood in the sprint home.

Even Themightyquinn's driver, Gary Hall jnr thought that was how it might turn out. But nobody told the horse.

"I had a little concern that Mr Feelgood mightn't hold up and that if we dropped down on the rail as I intended too soon we could end up in a tough position'' Hall said after the series favourite nailed a perfect record for his Auckland campaign and the Inter Dominions.

"I thought it might be tough to get enough of a crack at Mr Feelgood to beat him. But this horse can do things other horses can't do. I think he will be better again next week'' was Hall's ominous comment for his rivals.

The Auckland Cup winner before the Inter Doms started, Themightyquinn has won both his heats with huge closing sprints and justified his favouritism for the Final next week with his latest one.

He ran off a sharp late pace, the 800m in 56.3 and the 400m in 27.7 seemingly with ease.

While rivals might think the barrier draw will make it a lot harder for him, Hall was not not giving them much encouragement.

"He might be the only horse in the final who can still win it from back in the field with a big sprint. So the draw might be crucial to us but it is more crucial to them.''

"But it will be a long week''

Mr Feelgood was outsprinted but not disgraced and Monkey King stuck to his task well for a stayer. Another good effort came from Sleepy Tripp from the suicide outside draw and he looms as an upset hope in the Final next week.

Inter Dominion legend Brian Hancock has decided to attend the final of the Sky Casino/Christchurch Casino and it is starting to look as though he will need to bring a suit and a tie.

He would be odds on in most betting books at the moment to be on the winning side in the clash for the Hancock-Purdon Trophy, an innovative feature of the 2011 Inter Dominions.

The Trophy, named in the honour of two of the most successful families in Inter Dominion history , is being presented for the first time to the country which adds up most points over the series. After the first round of heats most would conclude that Brian will be the one shaking hands with the winners and Roy Purdon will only be looking on.

But it may not be all over.

Shane Gloury, chief executive of host club the New Zealand Metropolitan, points out that things could change before it is trophy time.

"It is 3-1 to the Aussies after the first night but New Zealand might do better in the second round of heats and don't forget there is double points for the Grand Finals next week.''

There is one point for each heat winner and Dr Hook was the only earner of points for the Kiwis on the first night. In the pacer's heats the outlook doesn't look great for New Zealand team but strange things are apt to happen in Inter Dominion series as we well know.

Apart from the enormous impact of Natalie Rasmussen and Blacks a Fake, Hancock is still probably the best known Inter Dominion horseman especially through his masterly training and driving of Sir Vancelot, the first horse to win three Inter Dominion pacing finals. He is also a popular personality strongly in demand as a guest speaker but not one to appreciate the limelight. He usually likes to stay low key.

Tough luck Brian. Looks like you will be back in the winner's circle next Friday. Or can the Kiwis storm back ?

Queensland trainer, Luke McCarthy, shortly to open a new stable near the Menangle course in New South Wales, is getting to know Auckland and likes what he sees.

“A beautiful place. I have only been in and out of here to the sales before and not had a chance to look around. I love the place''

That might have something to do with how his charges, Mr Feelgood and Washakie, are shaping up for the second round of Inter Dominion heats at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Washakie, second in his first round of heats and only needing a top six placing to make the final has drawn a tricky marble in his heat but Mr Feelgood, a previous Inter Dominion winner, has the ace marble in his earlier race.

“He will lead'' said McCarthy confirming what most people knew already.

“I expect improvement from him through the series. He hadn't done a lot of racing before he got here. I thought his run last week beating in find they were running 26 quarters was terrific.''

Washakie is up against Smoken Up with an ace draw from his four marble. McCarthy would have preferred to be inside the Victorian star.

“I thought if he drew inside or next to Smoken Up we might have a bit of fun with him because Smoken Up doesn't have the outright speed of some. Or at least he didn't until last week. I didn't think he had a 26 quarter in him to be honest so he must be really on song''

Washakie led up last week and looked as if he was keen to do more.

“It was a bit deceptive on television. He was going strong but he wasn't causing any pulling problems or anything like that. We were concentrating on setting up the points for the final and it worked out pretty well for us''

“I am very happy with both horses''

So are the New Zealand horses any threat ?

“Monkey King is as good as any of them when he is right. I think he will go a much bigger race this week''

McCarthy has also seen a lot of Blacks a Fake both beating him home and, more often, chasing him. What was his view of the champ's first round run ?

“Pretty good I thought. I wouldn't be surprised if Natalie (Rasmussen) got him up on the speed this week and ran him along for a few quarters. That's his go and I reckon she would rather give him that sort of race than run home a quarter. But our two are the horses I am concentrating on''

The name of Vulcan might be all about mythology, hypothetical people and planets but the chance of the trotter of that name being a real force in the third heat of the Inter Dominion Trotting Heat on Friday should not be discounted.

“He might surprise a few people'' said trainer Tim Butt

“He looks up against it but I am keen to get him into the final. I rate him a first four chance in that if we can make it''

Vulcan, one of the least experienced trotters in the series after just 23 lifetime starts, finished only ninth on the first night but, like the the blacksmith god of Romany mythology he was named after that was not the real thing, Tim believes.

“It was a run right out of character for him. He pulled and just didn't relax like he usually does. I think he will be a much better horse this week. I think he can be in the money''. He was at $21 midweek.

Tim is also plotting how Choise Achiever will best make the pacing final after he drew five over 2200m on Friday.

“It is a tricky draw in that there is speed inside there with Mr Feelgood and Villagem. There aren't a lot of prospects to pull you into the race. Nobody is going to be in a rush to put Themightyquinn and Monkey King into a winning position. We think we have to finish in the first six to make the final and that will be our top priority.''

Choise Achiever's run looked good on the first night and Tim says it was even better than it looked..

“Remember he had to work harder than some of them early to keep Five Star Anvil out and while he got a cushy run after that it was a pretty good run''

The outlook doesn't look so good for Raglan but that is the nature of the series.

“He looks best placed in the Consolation now. There are three champions in their own right in their home states of Australia and they have all come together at Auckland so it makes it tough for our good horses. Its what you expect in the Inter Dominions and we have certainly got that here.''

One of the lesser known Inter Dominion records may well be settled at the end of the second heat of the Sky City Inter Dominions at Alexandra Park on Friday.

Anthony Butt is currently the all time leader among drivers who have featured in Inter Dominion Finals-an incredible 29 of them.

Right behind him, though,is Tony Herlihy on 28 and it looks increasingly like he will equal Anthony's feat at the 2011 series.

Anthony's "home'' drive in the trotter's heat, Vulcan, is under pressure to make the final and he will not have another chance to drive the Swedish star Annicka now that trainer, Jorgen Westholme, has arrived, while Tony looks set to make it with Raydon even though he has drawn badly over 2200m on Friday.

"He can do a bit of work in a race. Not too much, mind,, but he can make his own luck a little bit'' Tony said of the trotter trained by his brother in law, Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

"He went quite good the first night and he is still on the way up''

He has stablemate Pembroke Benny as his leading chance in the pacing heats and thinks he has a reasonably good chance of making the final.

"He wasn't quite himself on the first night (fifth after every chance) and has a tough draw but he will get some sort of run through from where he is and can be in it.''

"He is not a star in this company but he is always good enough to be round about it''

Tony has won 28 Inter Dominion heats in his 3000 plus win career,and four finals, all with trotting horses (Buster Hanover, Pride of Petite, Diamond Field and Delft) . Altogether he has won a record 35 races at Inter Dominion carnivals.

He rates the current trotters right up there with his stars of the past.

"This horse (Raydon) is as good as they are-the problem is that the others are pretty good tool. I think they are a strong bunch at the moment''

He is wary of his rivals from a finals point of view even Sundon's Gift the flop of the first night.

"Sometimes you just have to turn the page on those sort of runs'' Anthony, who looks set to make the pacer's final with Choise Achiever after his first night placing, has also won four finals, with trotters Lyell Creek and Take a Moment and pacers Blossom Lady and Mr Feelgood. His total number of Inter Dominion races of 32 is three less than Herlihy's and equal with Brian Hancock. Hancock has driven in 16 finals, the lesser number of top trotters in leading Australian stables working against a higher tally for a man who has made the Inter Dominion his own.

You could be forgiven for thinking that legendary pacer Blacks a Fake would not take to kindly to the novelty of international travel. After all he is deep into middle age by human standards and at 10 years old this is his first trip outside Australia. But like a lot of Kiwi people doing the trip in reverse just the opposite is the case.

"He is just loving it here'' Natalie Rasmussen said yesterday (Tuesday)

"I suppose a horse which didn't settle in at the setup Barry Purdon has here wouldn't settle in anywhere but it is a bonus when you come this far and he takes it all in his stride so well''

Blacks a Fake the most successful Inter Dominion horse of all time, also made a good fist of his debut right handed in the first heat. Drawn wide and sitting parked for much of the race he sprinted home well into fourth.

"I was really happy with that'' Natalie said

"I didn't know quite what to expect except that he would be better for the run and he will be. But, not that was a top run in the circumstances. I am really looking forward to the next round of heats''

Blacks a Fake's "on again off again'' Inter Dominion campaign after two bouts of fibrillation of the heart in the past 10 months has provided quite a lot of media drama and the prospect of the great horse nailing an unheard of fifth Inter Dominion is now on the cards.

A good average run by Blacky standards would put him in a record setting sixth final. At present he shares a total of five with the great "Mighty Atom'' of New Zealand pacing, Caduceus. He has drawn the five gate over the sprint distance of 2200m which would rank as just about ideal for him with first heat winner, Smoken Up, sure to lead from the one gate. Blacks a Fake is also arguably in the weaker of the two hears

What about the right handed Alexandra Park the other new challenge for the wonder horse.

"I wouldn't say he was perfect. I think he is clearly better the other way around at this stage. But he did pretty well. He put one odd stride in at the home turn but otherwise I was reasonably happy'' Good news for Natalie and Blacky. Ominous for many others.

Though the SEW Eurodrive Second Inter Dominion heat produced a lot more action than the first- Themightyquinn ran six seconds faster than Smoken Up in the first heat-it produced another Australian trifecta and further underlined the challenge the Kiwis face winning the Sky Casino sponsored series on April 8.

Once again Themightyquinn was the right horse in the right place at the right time. By the time Blacks a Fake got up to the parked position outside a hard pulling Washakie the winner dropped into the one one and the Auckland Cup winner was always going to take a power of beating from there.

Sure enough he swamped Washakie and the game Choise Achiever stepping up to this grade for the first time who enjoyed the run of the race.

The eye catching run from a Kiwi viewpoint was the way Sleepy Tripp made ground for equal fifth after not having the best of luck in the running.

The sensation of the race was the time for the last 800m on 54.6 on a track pelted with rain during the evening. The last 400m was just over 26 so Sleepy Tripp's run was better than it looked.

Blacks a Fake was not disgraced running fourth after sitting parked on an easy pace. He was caught wide early and is a big improver from this run. Natalie Rasmussen was thrilled with the effort and not having too hard a run first up must be a plus.

Smiling Shard was another who did not have a great deal of luck.

Both heats left the impression held before the series that the Australians are going to be hard to hold out. But these were part of the skirmish. As urgency comes to qualifying for the final in the second round of heats-that will be war.

Defending champion Sundon's Gift was the shock failure of the Glenferrie Inter Dominion Trotting Heat at Alexandra Park last night but stablemate Let Me Thru lived right up to his odds-on rating holding out Sovereignty in the Trackside Channel second heat leaving the Chris and Chris Lang Melbourne stable both disappointed an hopeful after the first round. Paul Nairn, however, must have been at least as happy

Sundon's Gift was parked outside the winner Dr Hook, driven by Jim Curtin, in the first heat but was struggling before the corner and finished out of contention. He would probably have to run first or second in the second round of heats to even qualify for the final. He has won the last two champions and Lang admitted to be non plussed after the performance and an investigation is no doubt already under way. Let Me Thru however thrilled his son with his run.

Driven hard to lead and taken on again over the last 400m, Let Me Thru rallied to hold out Sovereignty with Stylish Monarch was a good third hinting he could have a say in the outcome in two weeks time. Let Me Thru is now two from two at Alexandra Park and Chris Lang thought there was more to come. He ran his last 800m in 59 and the 400m in 28.9.

“He didn't feel quite as sharp as he did last time and he had to do a bit of work tonight so I would expect there is more to come from him. It was a tough battle with Sovereignty but he is a good horse so we did well''

Sovereignty has come right at the right time and now looms as a major final hope.

Dr Hook was a typical Paul Nairn coup. He was having only his second start since the Dominion Handicap in November but once he found his favourite place in front it was all over.

It is hard to know how seriously of his rival drivers took Lance Justice's pre-race claim that he “wanted to make a statement'' in the Alabar Pacers Heat at the Sky City Inter Dominion Pacing Championships at Alexandra Park on Friday but in effect they gave him enough time to write a book.

Smoken Up posted a mid race 800m in 64 and then sprinted home in 55.7 and 26 on a slushy track to emphatically lay his claim to Inter Dominion honours.

“It felt like we were walking'' the popular Victorian horseman said himself after the race. “It is a pity the track was wet. I wanted to show tonight how much he had improved since Cup time (November at Addington)''

Justice had every right to be happy. He got an easy lead then an easier lead and nothing was going to outsprint him in the run home. From after the 200m nobody got close.

The good news for Lance was that Smoken Up might improve a bit more than some vistors to Auckland because he missed the Hunter Cup and the Auckland Cup after a busy time and was on the fresh side.

“I decided that the Inter Dominions were the thing to go for this year. He is not getting any younger''

Second and third placed Mr Feelgood and Villagem gave Australia the trifecta and both came from bad draws. Villagem gave his rival the “drag up'' mid race then Mr Feelgood gave him cover. Villagem has not done a lot of racing and his performance was an eye catcher while Mr Feelgood lost no caste.

On the other hand there were some timid efforts from the local contingent though to be be fair it is hard to judge how much was a tactical assessment of the opposition and the sloppy track affected some horses.

Captain Peacock was an eye catcher considering the speed of the last quarter during which he made up a lot of ground. Monkey King was not outstanding but in the conditions went a nice enough run given it is two weeks before the final.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) today announced the involvement of SKYCITY Auckland as a major sponsor and joint naming rights partner of the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships at Alexandra Park in Auckland.

Originally scheduled for Christchurch, the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships had to be transferred to Auckland following the devastating Earthquake which struck Christchurch last month.

“We are thrilled to have SKYCITY Auckland on board as a major event partner of the 2011 Inter Dominions. Their generous support has assisted in ensuring that this event can continue and we are confident it will be a success”, NZMTC Chief Executive Shane Gloury said.

“SKYCITY Auckland is the premier event destination in Auckland and it is fitting that SKYCITY Auckland have chosen to align themselves with the Premier Harness Racing Event in Australasia, the Inter Dominion Championships”, said Gloury.

SKYCITY Auckland’s, Grainne Troute said that SKYCITY was proud to be a supporting the people of Canterbury through such a time honoured and prestigious event.

“The people of Canterbury, including its proud harness racing community, have been dealt a number of devastating blows in the past couple of months. Communities and cities are often drawn closer together through sport and we hope that by supporting this prestigious event we can assist in the rebuilding of Christchurch. SKYCITY Auckland is delighted to be able to play its part and we encourage Aucklanders to come out in force and support our friends in Canterbury.

“We are pleased to be a major sponsor and joint naming rights partner of Australasian Harness Racing’s flagship event. The Inter Dominion Championship is an event by which greatness is measured and has been won by many great Champions over the years.

“I am sure that the 2011 Christchurch Casino in conjunction with SKYCITY Auckland Inter Dominion Championships will produce some great racing and entertainment throughout the Carnival.”

Despite currently being closed for business, Christchurch Casino has retained their involvement and will continue to support the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships in Auckland albeit in a reduced capacity. Christchurch Casino CEO Brett Anderson said “Christchurch Casino is pleased to continue to be involved with and to support the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships. Unfortunately the current closure of our venue and the shift of the Championships to Auckland have meant that we have had to review the extent of our support, however we are still on board and supporting the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships.”

The 2011 Christchurch Casino in conjunction with SKYCITY Auckland Inter Dominion Championships will be conducted at Alexandra Park – Auckland on Friday Nights 25 March, 1 April and 8 April. The Championships will showcase the greatest harness horses from Australia and New Zealand battling it out for the ultimate prize in Australasian Harness Racing.

ENDS

• The 2011 Inter Dominion Championships at Alexandra Park will be known as The Christchurch Casino in conjunction with SKYCITY Auckland Inter Dominion Championships.
• The 2011 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship will now be known as The SKYCITY Auckland Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Series
• The feature race of the Carnival, the Pacing Grand Final which will be run on Friday Night 8 April will be known as The SKYCITY Auckland Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Series – Grand Final.

International horses are all the rage in pre-race discussions for the Sky Casino Inter Dominion Championships. All, that is, except one.

His name is Lets Get Serious. He is owned in America and you could argue he has a record superior to any other trotter in that section of the championships. But nobody wants to know.

If his name gets a mention at all it is only in passing. Many nod respect at his past record but hardly rate him on his present one. So, is he any hope at all ?

Co-trainer Mark Purdon makes no secret of his dismay at finding the series transferred from the left handed Addington track to the right handed Alexandra Park. Lets Get Serious has had 133 lifetime starts-not one of them right handed. Thats not all. In the last five years, until last month, he had never even worked in the clockwise direction.

“He was all those years in America and the tracks are only left handed there. When he was here with Phil Williamson he never took him to Auckland and I understand they didn't rate him the same horse right handed'' co-trainer Mark Purdon says.

“But I have to say since we got him up here and really got him into it he has improved a lot.. And he is trotting really solid too so if he can get around the bends he will be a force in the race. His record speaks for itself''

In case it doesn't take a look at the stats. He has won 38 races, 28 of them in the United States and many of them in the white hot heat of the Meadowlands where only the best need apply. His best mile time there of 1:52.4 which equalled the best time of Lyell Creek would better than most of his Championship rivals would manage there.

“He was an iron horse over there. Week after week in those tough mile races. What I couldn't get over was how clean his legs were when he got back here. I expected all that tough racing would have taken its toll and I was prepared for the worst.They were as clean as a whistle''

Lets Get Serious is owned by American harness industry legend Joe Muscara who decided to send him half way around the world for a crack at the Inter Dominions. It has been his only focus.

“He was carrying a huge amount of condition when we got him and he has taken a lot of work to get him down to racing weight. He will still improve with racing but he has done pretty well'' Mark said.

“I would have to say that we would have preferred him to have been at Addington where he went so well a while ago'' Lets Get Serious has been fourth in both his New Zealand starts since returning.

The veteran has not actually won a race since the middle of 2009 but that might not be the best guide to what he can show at Auckland.

As a younger horse he won the Four Year Old Trotting Championship, ironically enough driven by Blair Orange, leaving stablemate One Over Kenny, in his wake. In the United States he won 10 races in one season and measured up to some pretty strong company. He might be the International outsider today-but don't be so sure about tomorrow.

Brisbane trainer John McCarthy won't be on hand at Alexandra Park on Friday but don't worry that he will be playing very close attention.

McCarthy, who works in tandem with his son Luke, the trainer of record of Mr Feelgood, also has Washakie trained in his name in the heats. However John is delaying his return until after at least the first round of heats.

“They will both go good races but they will both improve with it. They are different types of horses so I would be expecting different things for them'' McCarthy said from his Brisbane base.

“Mr Feelgood is obviously the better of the two on ability. To me he is the best pacer I have ever seen. He can do anything and he is a lovely horse to handle while he is doing it. Washakie doesn't have his brilliance but he is the toughest horse you will ever see''

John McCarthy's instructions to Luke will be to go hard on Washakie and, when he has done that, go harder.

“The harder the race he has to more he improves. He doesn't have the other horse's class but something like the Inter Dominions suits him. He will go hard races in the heat and improve with each one and he will be ready for a harder one in the Final if he can make it''

“He's been a great old horse everywhere he has been. He won big races for Gary Hall in Perth and then he was sent over to me when the Inter Doms were here in Brisbane. Gary didn't want to do a lot of travelling across Australia so we ended up keeping him''

While Luke is looking after the two Inter Dominion horses, John is at home looking after the rest of the team. That has got more complicated now that Luke has opened a New South Wales stable.

“We ideally up here have had around 40 horses. Sometimes more though not more than 50. Generally we aim to do about 20 each. That's quite a few horses to look after and somebody has to do that ' John said.

While Luke may drive both horses in both heats John is looking forward to driving Washakie in the final.

“I have stepped aside a bit as the boys have come through but I still enjoy driving and we haven't won an Inter Dom even though we have won a lot of other big races'' John said.

Luke's brother, Andy, is back in America hoping to crack the Meadowlands and youngest son Todd is just making his way in the driving game.

If John makes the final behind Washakie though you can be sure of one thing. It won't be a soft run. That is not the Washakie way.

Mark Purdon will probably decide on Tuesday whether AUCKLAND REACTOR will continue with his Inter Dominion campaign after a scouring attack ended his hoppled workout at Pukekohe yesterday.

Auckland Reactor was immediately put under expert treatment and Mark said veterinary surgeon Ivan Bridge reported improvement on Monday afternoon.

"That is quite encouraging but he would have to be pretty right by tomorrow to continue with the Inter Dominions. I will probably decide in the morning one way or another"

Jan Payne, Auckland Reactor's attendant noticed he was "off his tucker'' when given his breakfast yesterday and more listless than usual.

"She brought him over to Pukekohe for his work but after a couple of laps he started scouring and I brought him back straight away'' Mark said.

The attack was the lastest in a series of minor setbacks which have plagued the return of Auckland Reactor one of the most brilliant pacers produced in New Zealand before a failed American campaign. He had a 12 month break from racing before making a winning debut for All Stars stable at Ashburton in February but has disappointed in two runs in Auckland since. "It is very close to the start of the carnival now and you don't want to be going into it under a cloud'' Mark said.

Lets Get Serious, another which came back from the United States for a tilt at the Interdominions from All Stars is progressing well and will be driven by Mark in the heats starting Friday.

Anthony Butt will drive the Swedish trotter, Annicka, in her first round Inter Dominion heat at Alexandra Park on Friday night knowing it is likely to be his only chance to do so. Trainer Jorgen Westholm, one of the leading trainers in Sweden, will be here for the second heat but has entrusted Anthony with the task in the first round.

The Swedish mare has “gone to ground'' as far as the media is concerned since arriving in New Zealand from her England quarantine period late last year. The most surprising aspect of her preparation is not that she has not taken the opportunity to trial or race since entering serious work-her connections have deliberately avoided either.

“They did not want to test her in public at any stage before the heats'' Anthony said.

“It is unusual for the top horses in Europe to race three weeks in succession like she is being asked to do so they want to have her fresh for the first round of heats. That probably means she is going to improve a lot with the run but it would not be wise to overlook her class.''

Annicka, the first European trotter to come to New Zealand for the Inter Dominions, has a race record of 12 wins which includes the Swedish Oaks of 2008 but faces a huge challenge Friday in her first race right-handed and up against the best trotters in Australasia who are much fitter for the task than she is.

She also had to serve quarantine time in England when there were restrictions on what she could do from a training point of view.

“All that is true but you have to remember how good the European trotters are'' Anthony said.

“They are better than ours so she is going to be competitive, especially by the time the final comes around''

Butt is more familiar than most with European trotting ranks. Even the great Lyell Creek faound the going touch when taken up for the ultimate European trot, the Elitlopp in Sweden. Racing in Europe is exclusively anti-clockwise but Butt does not expect that to create too many problems.

“They will have worked her that way and I can't see it is a problem. The track is different from the sort of circuits she is used to but it is the same track for everyone so that is not a problem. Jorgen is an outstanding horseman and she wouldn't be here without a good reason''

Butt is disappointed that Stunin Cullen is out of the pacing championships but has the faith evident in the Butt stable over Choise Achiever.

“It might be a year too soon for him and maybe he could have been a little bit better suited to Addington which is a very fair track, but he is up for it'' he said.

He also drives Raglan in the pacing heats and the talented trotter Vulcan in the second trotting heat.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) today announced that only two Pacers Heats will be conducted for each Qualifying round of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships.

“With only 22 final acceptors for the Pacers Championship, it is logical that these horses be split into two, not three heats” explained NZMTC CEO Shane Gloury.

As a result of the reduction in the number of Pacers Heats, the Pointscore System for the Pacers Championship has also been changed and is now consistent with the Trotters Championship.

“The original Pointscore system for Pacers awarded points down to 6th place in the Heats and was devised on the basis that there would be three Pacers Heats for each Qualifying round” said Gloury.

“If we retained this system, theoretically we could have a situation where we have horses with zero points after all of the Qualifying Heats, fighting it out for the last remaining spot in the Pacers Grand Final. Accordingly it makes sense to adjust the Pointscore system for Pacers and award points down to 8th place in the Qualifying Heats.”

The points that will be awarded in each Inter Dominion Qualifying Heat for Pacers and Trotters will be as follows:

1st	10 points
2nd	8 points
3rd	6 points
4th	5 points
5th	4 points
6th	3 points
7th	2 points
8th	1 points
9th to 13th	0 points

“While the quantity of horses in the Pacers Championship has been affected by the late shift in host venue, the quality of runners in both the Pacers and Trotters Series is outstanding and we are looking forward to a fantastic Inter Dominion Carnival” Gloury concluded.

The 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships will be conducted at Alexandra Park on Friday Nights 25 March, 1 April and 8 April. For further information, please visit www.interdoms2011.co.nz

What a difference a few weeks (or so) can make !

Imamightyquinn is still the favourite for the Inter Dominion final on April 8, as he was when the market first opened in this country on the feature but has tightened in to $3.50 after his outstanding win in the Auckland Cup last Friday.

However the real mover from opening day has been Mr Feelgood. He was at a generous $10 when the book opened but has come into $4 after what many consider the run of the race in the Auckland Cup. Trainer John McCarthy was only stating the obvious wheen he said after the race “He will only improve''

The odds “blower'' is Auckland Reactor as many would expect after two runs below his best at Alexandra Park in the last two weeks.

At the time first odds were issued he was at $7 but tightened in to $4 after his brilliant first up win at Ashburton. Today you can get him at $11 and probably only because Mark Purdon is a good enough trainer to produce a miracle he could attract some longer odds money at that.

Monkey King is on the drift as well, out to $11 after not racing like he can so far in his preparation. Most runners are well out past $20 reflecting the fact experts rate the Final a five horse race at this stage. One possible value bet is Captain Joy. Somewhat disappointing since a brilliant juvenile season when he carried all before him, he rushed home behind Smoken Up in his final hitout for the series and could be on the way back to his best form.

Certainly at this stage it certainly pays to be an Aussie if you want to back a favourite.

Trainer Tim Butt will evaluate his options with star pacer, Stunin Cullen, after the Hunter Cup winner was withdrawn from the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominions starting at Alexandra Park on March 25.

“I just haven't been happy with him and he didn't scope that well after the Auckland Cup so there is no real point in pressing on. I haven't been that happy with him for a few weeks now and we will have to sit down and think of what we do next. He will definitely have a spell. He has been up a long time, had a great season and it just shows how hard it is to stay at the top against these horses if you are not 100 per cent''

Stunin Cullen had his career resurrected by a wind operation in Melbourne last year and one option is to consider a further operation.

“I don't know if there is anything which can be done to be honest or whether we just have to manage it as it is. Those are the sort of things we are looking at''

Tim revealed that even when Stunin Cullen was winning the Ballarat and Hunter Cups he was not 100 per cent happy with the horse.

“It is a funny thing to say after winning races like that but I thought he could have just been a wee bit better on that trip when you consider what he can do at his best'' he said.

He said he was knocked by Stunin Cullen's lead up to the Auckland Cup and feared something was amiss.

“Horses which have this sort of operation can vary how they perform more than usual. They are fine when they are on song but they can struggle if there is something amiss even if it is a small thing. He can come back as good as ever if we manage things right''

On a bright note Tim is thrilled with Choise Achiever as he approaches Inter Dominion time.

“I couldn't fault what he did the other night from where he was. I have always maintained he is going to be a factor in the Inter Dominions and everything is going according to plan there.''

The Inter Dominions were affected by further withdrawals on Tuesday, Gomeo Rome and De Lovely definiately out.

Australian pacers dominate the top five of the final Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion rankings but two Canterbury stables are holding up well with three horses each rated in the top 20.

Blacks a Fake retains his number one ranking and Monkey King, perhaps fortunately, remains at number two his recent form having also been below his best. Then follows three more Australians many would feel rate better chances on their latests runs, Themightyquinn, Mr Feelgood and Smoken Up -giving the Aussies four of the top five spots. Heading the rest of the New Zealanders is Stunin Cullen, holding sixth.

There are some surprises in the assessments given current form. Younger stars like Smiling Shard and De Lovely have ability nobody doubts but hold quite a high ranking especially De Lovely perhaps whose ability is respected but who has not been asked to race regularly against the best older male horses.

On the other hand Highview Tommy has risen from 20 in the first rankings to 14th now even though the Auckland Cup was possibly the worst race of his career- and there haven't been many bad ones.Sleepy Tripp has slipped because of his Hunter Cup campaign but his 13th place might not be the best indication by the end of this series.

Tim Butt and the All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Grant Payne each have three horses in the top 20, Choise Achiever and Raglan just scraping inside the list. The third All Stars runner, Auckland Reactor, is now in the enigma class after failing to sustain a lead in the Auckland Cup.

"He will be undergoing a few tests on Tuesday to check everything is all right. He seems to be ok in himself but he was disappointing the other night'' Mark said. Many punters will be even mor puzzled by the cramped fixed odds offered about Auckland even before he had had his first race in 15 months.

Stunin Cullen has been a notch below his best but it is still three weeks from the big one and the Butt stable have proven masters at peaking their best horses for the best races.

In what is already one of the strongest Inter Dominions of the modern era, the promoters of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion received the news that they have been holding out for earlier today. Blacks A Fake is coming to New Zealand!

Yes there have been a few false starts and premature announcements and enough doubt to suggest even Natalie Rasmussen couldn't pull off a minor miracle with her legendary pacer. But she has.

On Saturday night at Albion Park the great pacer stormed to the front and rated 1:56 from the mobile over 2100m winning easily.

“I buzzed him off the gate to give him a good test and he did it easily. It is not the sort of preparation I have been able to give him in other years but I'm happy enough with him to go across to New Zealand'' Natalie said after the race. Blacks A Fake will arrive in New Zealand on Thursday after being floated from Brisbane to Sydney on Wednesday.

“I know it is a huge challenge but the old guy is going well enough to have one last crack at the Inter Dominion.''

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) CEO, Shane Gloury said that his Club was ecstatic to hear the news that Blacks A Fake was a confirmed starter for the upcoming Inter Dominion Carnival.

“Blacks A Fake is the greatest performed Pacer in the history of Australian Harness Racing. He is a legend, the best of all time and it will be a privilege for New Zealand racing fans to be able to see him live in action at the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships at Alexandra Park.”

From 97 starts, Blacks A Fake has recorded 69 wins and has amassed almost $4.4m in stake earnings. He has won an unbelievable four Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Finals and almost every other race worth winning on Australian soil including the Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup, Qld Pacing Championship, Treuer Memorial, Trans Tasman and seven heats of the Inter Dominion.

“We have been trying to get Blacks A Fake to campaign in New Zealand for the past two years and it is great to hear that he will be here to race in the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships. New Zealanders are great racing fans and appreciate a true champion.

Blacks A Fake is certain to bring thousands of extra fans through the gates of Alexandra Park and he will receive a fantastic reception throughout his entire New Zealand Inter Dominion campaign.” Blacks A Fake is on the fourth line of betting and is rated a $10 chance to take out his fifth Inter Dominion Grand Final at Alexandra Park on Friday Night the 8th of April. He will kick off his New Zealand campaign in a heat of the Inter Dominion Series at Alexandra Park on the 25th of March and will also race in a second round heat at Alexandra Park seven nights later on 1 April.

Villagem reminded punters that he should not be overlooked as a contender for the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships starting at Alexandra Park on March 25 with a smashing trial at Bendigo on Monday.

Like a number of Inter Dom contenders, his connections gained permission for a full trial in a clockwise direction the right handed way of going being unknown in Australian harness racing.

"It was his second trial that way around and he has gone super both times'' David Miles, husband of trainer, Lisa, said after the event.

"Lisa said he cornered super and he ran his last 800m in 54.9'' Miles told David Aldred of the Harness Racing Australia website.

Lisa Miles drove the star and her husband the galloping pacemaker. Villagem had earlier trialled at Melton in the same direction and had not problems with the right handed turns. He will have one more trial, at Kilmore, next week, before leaving for New Zealand.

Captain Joy is due to join him at Kilmore and is another likely to get under the guard of punters on this side of the Tasman. The way he dashed home behind Smoken Up last start suggested he is back in peak form for the Auckland series.

Villagem, a five year old by Village Jasper, has won over $500,000 his best return when he won the Chariots of Fire last year in 1:52.4.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) today announced a change in dates for a number of feature races this season. These changes have been necessitated as a result of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships being transferred to Alexandra Park in Auckland.

The feature races that have had a change in date are as follows:

New Date	Race	Stake	Original Date
30/03/2011	PGG NZ Sales 3YO Fillies Final	$175,000	25/03/2011
23/04/2011	Renwick Joinery Pacers FFA	$25,000	18/03/2011
23/04/2011	NZ Derby 3YO Pacers	$200,000	8/04/2011
23/04/2011	Welcome Stakes 2YOPacers	$80,000	8/04/2011
23/04/2011	Canterbury Country Cups Final	$20,000	25/03/2011
14/05/2011	Flying Stakes 3YO Pacers	$40,000	1/04/2011
14/05/2011	NZ Trotting Oaks 3YO Fillies	$25,000	20/05/2011
20/05/2011	NZ Trotting Derby 3YO	$80,000	8/04/2011

All of these feature races will continue to be conducted at Addington Raceway except for the $175,000 PGG NZ Yearling Sales 3YO Fillies Final which will now be conducted by the Rangiora HRC at Rangiora.

A new $15,000 Pacers FFA will be scheduled at Addington for Friday Night 18 March in view of the transfer of the Group 3 $25,000 Renwick Pacers FFA to 23 April.

The Group 3 $25,000 Renwick FFA was initially earmarked as a key lead up race to the Inter Dominion Series at Addington. With the Inter Dominions now being run at Alexandra Park however, it is felt that a better quality field in line with the Group status of this race will now be obtained by conducting this race after the Inter Dominion Carnival on Easter Saturday Night, 23 April.

Harness Racing is expected to resume at Addington on Friday Night 18 March with repairs from the recent Canterbury Earthquake expected to be completed by this date, enabling racing to resume at the venue.

While racing is likely to resume at Addington on 18 March, the Public Stand is currently off limits and expected to be closed for an extended period of time. An initial Engineers Report has found that the Public Stand has structural damage and that it is currently not safe for occupation or utilization. Further tests are being carried out by Engineers to determine the extent of the damage and the remedial works required.

A list of all feature races that will be conducted by the NZMTC for the remainder of the season is outlined in the table below.

Date	Stake	Name of Race	Venue
25/03/2011	$40,000	Inter Dominion Pacers Hts	Alexandra Park
25/03/2011	$30,000	Inter Dominion Trotters Hts	Alexandra Park
30/03/2011	$175,000	PGG NZ Yearling Sales 3yo Fillies Fnl	Rangiora
1/04/2011	$40,000	Inter Dominion Pacers Hts	Alexandra Park
1/04/2011	$30,000	Inter Dominion Trotters Hts	Alexandra Park
8/04/2011	$800,000	Inter Dominion Pacers Grand Final	Alexandra Park
8/04/2011	$250,000	Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final	Alexandra Park
8/04/2011	$50,000	Inter Dominion Pacers Consolation	Alexandra Park
8/04/2011	$30,000	Inter Dominion Trotters Consolation	Alexandra Park
23/04/2011	$200,000	NZ Derby	Addington
23/04/2011	$80,000	Welcome Stakes	Addington
23/04/2011	$80,000	NZ Trotting Championship	Addington
23/04/2011	$25,000	Renwick Joinery Pacers FFA	Addington
23/04/2011	$20,000	Canterbury Country Cups Final	Addington
29/04/2011	$25,000	NZ 2YO Trotting Stakes	Addington
14/05/2011	$300,000	PGG NZ Yearling Sales 2yo Open	Addington
14/05/2011	$150,000	Nevele R 3yo Fillies Final	Addington
14/05/2011	$60,000	NZ Sires Stakes 2yo Trotters Final	Addington
14/05/2011	$40,000	Flying Stakes - 3yo	Addington
14/05/2011	$25,000	NZ Trotting Oaks	Addington
20/05/2011	$200,000	NZ 2yo Sires Stakes Final	Addington
20/05/2011	$125,000	Wayne Francis New Zealand Oaks	Addington
20/05/2011	$80,000	NZ Trotting Derby	Addington
20/05/2011	$20,000	Winter Cup	Addington

If the Inter Dominions had been held in Christchurch this year it would have been the ninth occasion since 1938 that the famous track had hosted the series. The change forced by the effects of the earthquake of last week means that Alexandra Park will host the series for the eighth time also-though of course the club of record will be the New Zealand Metropolitan club.

The stat is of interest because this is the last Inter Dominions to be run under the present system and the future of the series, while secure in some form, could alter drastically.

The first championships in Auckland were in 1948 ten years after the pioneer meeting in Christchurch and had three Australian visitors the best known being the star pacer, Bandbox. Seven years later in 1955 when Tactician won again there were three invaders from across the Tasman included the superstar, Ribands, and two past champtions, the ageing former Kiwi Captain Sandy (the first to win two titles) and Tennessee Sky. Auckland attracted surprisingly small heat fields, nine runners being near the maximum in 1948 but put up 7500 pounds for the Final the winning stake capable of buying a very good farm in those days.

A crowd of 31,000 Aucklanders attended but the winner was from Canterbury, the colourful Wally Tatterson from Rakaia driving Emulous to win for Mrs Haslett of Rakaia. Mrs Haslett had developed an outstanding breed and it didn't end with Emulous. He was a brother to Lightning Lady with which Tatterson won 14 races. However he lost contact with the family when he moved to Christchurch and Mrs Haslett turned to Don Nyhan of Templeton as her trainer and adviser.

Lightning Lady produced Ladyship of whom Don Nyhan once said he could drive 'with cotton reins she was such a beautiful pacer''. His wife Doris, raced Ladyship's colt, Lordship, whose great career seemed to have a hoodoo when it came to the Inter Dominions. Perhaps Emulous had used up all the family good luck.

Don Nyhan played a headline role in the second Auckland Inter Dominion of 1955 when the public idol Johnny Globe was beaten by the first pacer outside America to win a race in better than two minutes, Tactician, from Methven, not far from Emulous country. McTigue later recalled he had two pieces of good luck in winning the race while Johnny Globe, further back in the field than usual had little and ran his last 800m on the grass in 57.6 to be second.

Some saw irony in the result. The previous November the ageing Johnny Globe was still trying to win a New Zealand Cup after several attempts. McTigue, caught wide with Tactician who was not a great staying horse, surged around the field and set such a hectic pace the world record was broken by three seconds. That suited the great stayer Johnny Globe better than any other horse in the race and his time was to remain the best in New Zealand for 30 years.

The series was a tremendous success but Auckland was not rewarded. It was 13 years before the "Inter Doms'' would return to Alexandra Park.

The change of venue for the Inter Dominion championships has boosted Lance Justice's confidence for the series with Smoken Up, best known in New Zealand for his efforts at Addington.

Justice revealed on the eve of the Geelong cup which Smoken Up will start in on Saturday night that he would not have gone to Christchurch had the Inter Dominions been retained there.

"There are a number of reasons I would not have felt comfortable going to Christchurch but now I feel fully confident about the Inter Dominions'' he told Jason Bonnington.

While Smoken Up has been easing in the markets in the last couple of months, Justice has never lost faith in his Inter Dominion chances.

"He is in the zone. He has been in the zone for a couple of months and like that he should be too good for them (in the Geelong Cup)'' he said.

Justice indicated he had all along planned the Geelong Cuip as his springboard to the Inter Dominions whereever they were held.

"He;s been working the place down at home so if he didn't win this and win it well I would be disappointed'' said Justice who is also seeking expenses for the trip. Smoken Up has drawn 11 in the $A25,000 2540m feature.

Following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch on 22nd February 2011 a number of changes have been made to the 2011 Inter Dominion and the placement of other feature races.

The PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Series Fillies Pace - $175,000 will be hosted by the Rangiora HRC on Wednesday 30 March 2011. The following NZ Metropolitan TC features will have date changes, with an announcement of these likely later this week.

Canterbury Country Cups Final
3yo Flying Stakes (Group 2)
NZ Derby (Group 1)
2yo Welcome Stakes (Group 1)
NZ 3yo Trotting Derby (Group 1)

The 2011 Inter Dominion has been moved to Auckland. Alexandra Park will play host to the NZ Metropolitan TC, with the three Inter Dominion dates remaining the same. Below are the supplementary Inter Dominion conditions and alterations for the series.

2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Supplementary Conditions and Alterations

• All three nights of the Series will be conducted by the NZ Metropolitan TC at Alexandra Park, Auckland, on Friday 25th March 2011, Friday 1st April 2011 and Friday 8th April 2011.
• The first round of heats will be Mobile 2700 metre events for both Pacers and Trotters. The second round of heats will be Mobile 2200 metre events for both Pacers and Trotters, and the Pacers and Trotters Grand Finals and Consolations will be Mobile 2700 metre events.
• Field Sizes – Both Pacing and Trotting Championships shall be limited to 13 starters, plus two common emergencies. The maximum number that shall start on the front row is eight. This applies to Heats, Finals and Consolations.
• The stake for the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Pacing Final will be $800,000. The Trotters Final will be conducted for $250,000. The breakdown of stake monies will be determined by the number of acceptors.
• The Pacers Heats will carry a stake of $40,000 and the Pacers Consolation will be run for $50,000. The Trotters Heats will carry a stake of $30,000 and the Trotters Consolation will be run for $30,000.
• All races for both Pacers and Trotters in the Championship remain a Random Barrier Draw. Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion 2011 and Other Feature Races
• An additional date of 3.00pm NZ time Friday 11 March 2011 has been added to the Inter Dominion Championship timetable. This date is applicable for the following:
  • Any horse not originally nominated for the Championship may nominate by this date and time. Such horse will be subject to the fees applicable to this point in time. i.e. : A nomination fee and sustaining payment. For Pacers this represents $2000 + GST, for Trotters $750 + GST.
  • Any horse originally nominated for the series but subsequently withdrawn may re-enter, providing the fees to this point in time are paid.
  • Any horse already withdrawn that does not wish to re-enter has forfeited the fees paid to date.
  • Any horse already entered for the series, but not yet withdrawn, shall be entitled to a full refund of all fees paid to date should it not wish to participate in the relocated series.
• Horses which are nominated for the Inter Dominion series, remain acceptors unless withdrawn, and are subject to associated fees.
• Whilst it is intended that three Pacing Heats and two Trotting Heats be held on each of the first two nights, the club reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of heats and adjust all impacted conditions.
• Final rankings remain the same date. These will be released at 3.00 pm Monday 14 March 2011.
• Final acceptances remain the same date, and are required by 3.00 pm Tuesday 15 March 2011. These fees are $2500 + GST for Pacers and $1250 + GST for Trotters.
• Whilst the Inter Dominion rankings will determine the horses that will participate in the Championship, the club reserves the right should the situation present itself to allow a horse originally nominated or withdrawn, and subsequently re-entered for the series on the 20th December 2010, preference to participate over any new nomination made by 3.00 pm Friday 11 March 2011.
• Lodging Nominations - All nominations must be submitted on the prescribed Nomination Form and signed by either the owner, trainer or authorised agent and be accompanied by the relevant nomination fee. Nomination forms can be lodged by mail, sent by facsimile or lodged by hand at the offices of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

Postal Address: New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club
PO Box 9036
Tower Junction
Christchurch, 8149
New Zealand

Office Address: 75 Jack Hinton Drive
Addington
Christchurch
Facsimile Number: + 64 3 338 0557

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (The Met) announced today that the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships would be run by The Met at Alexandra Park in Auckland on Friday 25 March, Friday 1 April and the Grand Final Meeting on Friday 8th April.

In announcing the change, Chairman David Rankin advised that a key consideration for The Met was the safety of patrons and staff at the Addington Raceway venue in Christchurch. “An Engineer’s report on key building structures at Addington received yesterday reveals that our large Public Stand has some structural issues which cannot be addressed in the short time frame available. Similarly the Metropolitan Stand (Members) needs to have some glazing repairs and there is some non structural damage to end infill panels which need to be replaced for safety reasons. The glazing is expected to be completed by 25 March and the infill panels can be shored up temporarily to allow use of this stand. However, we are working within a tight time frame for which the risk of completion is too great. The older Twiggers Stand and the new stables are not affected.”

“The transfer to Auckland will to a large degree mitigate our financial losses. The Auckland Trotting Club, not wanting to take advantage of our plight are allowing us to be there as a “tenant club” with no rental and contributing other net revenues to us as their way of supporting harness racing in Canterbury and the financial turmoil the earthquakes have created for us in Christchurch. We are gratified by their generous support. Harness Racing New Zealand has been hugely supportive in ensuring the Inter Dominions will be a success financially for The Met and we are extremely grateful to CEO Edward Rennell and his Board.

Practically, there was no other decision available to us, but nevertheless we feel strongly for the Canterbury Trainers, drivers, owners, our members and the Public who were looking forward to this event in Christchurch and gave us every encouragement to continue at all costs.”

“Also, we cannot ignore the Christchurch Community which is reeling as a result of the major Earthquake on 22 February and it seems inappropriate for us to hold a Harness Racing Carnival at a time when so many people are suffering. We appreciate the Minister for Civil Defence (and also Minister for Racing) John Carter and the Christchurch City Council were not prepared to direct us to not hold the event, despite the fact they doubted whether the Christchurch infrastructure could cope.”

The Met CEO, Shane Gloury said he was “absolutely gutted” he and his team could not deliver the Inter Dominions to Christchurch people and the local industry. “Our team at The Met have been working hard over the last two years to have the very best horses from Australia and New Zealand race in Canterbury as part of a magnificent Carnival. Unfortunately we are not able to showcase this product in Canterbury due to the events of the past 8 days. However we will still be able to conduct a great Carnival up in Auckland.”

Over 50% of the horses nominated for the Series are trained in Canterbury and Gloury said that he was conscious of the additional costs associated with campaigning horses in the North Island for a two week period that were not originally budgeted for. “We are looking to ameliorating that in some way, but don’t have much in the resource department to achieve what we would like to do” he added.

“The Met has had two very tough years financially and the financial implications of the business downturn and the earthquakes have needed careful management” said Rankin.

“We understand there are those from outside of Christchurch that would have liked to attend an Inter Dominion Series in Christchurch, but are fearful following the recent earthquakes.”

Other feature races that were due to be run as part of the Inter Dominion Carnival in Christchurch will not be transferred to Auckland but will be run in Canterbury at later dates to be announced over the next few days.

The Met will be making necessary arrangements with sponsors, supporters, tour groups, members, industry participants and others over the next few days to ensure that a successful outcome and bumper Inter Dominion Carnival is conducted in Auckland between 25 March and 8 April.

Enquiries: CEO: Shane Gloury 021 727 136 (international 6421 727 136) Chairman: David Rankin 021 876 543 (international 6421 876 543)

The devastating Christchurch earthquake has forced the transfer of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Championships from Addington Raceway to Alexandra Park in Auckland.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has reluctantly decided to move the iconic event following close consultation with Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and the Auckland Trotting Club (ATC). The decision was ratified by the Inter Dominion Event Committee, comprising representatives of HRNZ and Harness Racing Australia (HRA), in a telephone conference last night.

“Everyone involved in the decision making was aware of the difficulties in moving the series, which commences on March 25, at this late stage,” HRNZ Chief Executive Edward Rennell said.

“The Met has done a great deal of planning and everyone was looking forward to an outstanding Inter Dominion series in Christchurch,” he said.

“Obviously however the earthquake has changed all that. We are acutely aware of the human suffering and the impact this tragedy has had on all New Zealanders. While every endeavour has been made to retain the series in Christchurch, unfortunately with the state of the city and the repairs required to Addington Raceway, this is not feasible”.

“We were also mindful of the need to make a prompt decision to assist the connections of horses engaged in the series in making plans, as well as other parties such as tour operators and individuals who had been planning to attend the series,” Mr Rennell said. “It really is a “no-win” situation and we appreciate this decision will affect a number of people”.

The series will still be hosted by the NZMTC who will race at Alexandra Park as a tenant club of the ATC. In a change to the conditions of the series, the stakes for the Pacers final has been reduced to $800,000 with all other races maintained at their programmed level. The reduction with the Pacers final has been necessary to ensure the viability of the event with the late transfer and associated additional costs facing The Met following the earthquake.

“The easy option for The Met would have been to abandon the series given the circumstances it finds itself in”, Mr Rennell said. “HRNZ applauds the club for its courage and commitment in continuing to stage this event for the benefit of the industry despite the current difficulties”.

Revised conditions for the series will be determined and released to the industry on 3 March. Other feature races such as the New Zealand Derby will be retained in Christchurch and raced on alternative dates that will be determined over the next week.

HRNZ Chairman Pat O’Brien congratulated the Auckland Trotting Club for offering to make the Alexandra Park facility available to the Met to conduct the championships.

“It is another sign of the co-operative spirit of all New Zealanders in the wake of this terrible tragedy,” he said.

ATC President Mr Rod Croon said his club was only too pleased to be able to assist The Met and Christchurch in any shape or form. Details are currently being considered but attempts will be made to contribute to the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund in some shape or form during the course of the series.

HRA Chief Executive, Andrew Kelly, said various alternatives had been canvassed with New Zealand officials when it became apparent the event could not be held in Christchurch and the decision to move ID11 was the most sensible in the circumstances.

The conduct of the Inter Dominions in 2013 to 2015 is currently the subject of a competitive tender process amongst harness racing bodies in Australasia. In light of the transfer of this year’s series from Christchurch, NZMTC Chairman, Mr David Rankin confirmed that The Met will express an interest in hosting the series again in Christchurch in 2013.

“Our immediate focus is on making the current series in Auckland the best racing event of the season”, Mr Rankin said.

“In light of the circumstances however over the last week The Met is committed to securing hosting rights for a future series in Christchurch for the benefit of the Canterbury region and racing public. The Inter Dominions will not be lost to Christchurch”, he said. Mr Rankin also wishes to acknowledge The Met’s appreciation for the loyalty and understanding of its sponsors in making this transfer. “We are very tremendously fortunate to have such great sponsors as the Christchurch Casino (Pacers Final) and Dream With Me Stables (Trotters Final) who have pledged their ongoing support for the event”, he said.

The final of the Inter Dominion pacers and trotters events will be decided at Alexandra Park in Auckland on Friday April 8. The Inter Dominion Championships are an annual event and were last held in New Zealand in Auckland in 2005.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Edward Rennell
HRNZ CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Phone 03 964 1180
Fax 03 964 1187
Mobile 021 407 596
Email edward@hrnz.co.nz

In a joint statement, representatives from Harness Racing Australia, Harness Racing New Zealand and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club today provided an industry update with regards to the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion and Australasian Young Drivers Championship in the wake of the tragic events continuing to unfold in Christchurch.

Addington Raceway has sustained some damage to its track and facilities but has emerged relatively well from Tuesdays aftershock. ‘While Structural Engineers are yet to inspect the facility, it is expected that the track and facilities will be back up and fully operational well in time for the 2011 Christchurch Inter Dominion which is due to start on 25 March.

Officials are closely monitoring the state of infrastructure and associated facilities within the City of Christchurch and its ability to host visitors and stage a major event such as the Inter Dominion so soon after the recent earthquake.

These issues are continuing to be closely monitored, while a host of contingency options are considered in order to provide the best outcome for the event. However, at this stage, no decision has been made with respect to changing the original schedule.

An announcement is expected early next week once more information is available and officials have a better understanding and outlook on Christchurch’s infrastructure issues.

CONTACTS:

Harness Racing New Zealand: Edward Rennell +64 3 964 1180 Mobile +64 21 407 596
New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club: Shane Gloury +64 3 338 9094 Mobile +64 21 727 136
Harness Racing Australia: Andrew Kelly +61 3 9227 3000 Mobile +61 488 358 285

Champion trotting mare, Sundon's Gift, lost no caste for the upcoming Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Trotting Championship even though beaten in his first clash with stablemate, Let Me Thru, in the historic $A50,000 Dullard Cup at Melton on Friday night.

Let Me Thru, driven by Chris Lang junior while his father, trainer of both, handled the reigning star of the Australasian trotting scene, did some work parked before Sundon's Gift launched a big run wide to take the lead on the last lap. When Let Me Thru dropped over to trail his stablemate it seemed Sundon's Gift had his measure but the move was the winning of the race.

The younger Lang came with the last gasp run along the passing lane to beat Sundon's Gift. The significant time out of the race was the mile rate of 2:00.3 a record for the 2760 distance at Melton.

The first and last 400m sections were the fastest of the race at 29.7.

Where Sundon's Gift fans would not be losing any sleep over the Inter Dominion was the fact that it was his first race since December 18 meaning he will improve considerably with the run. Let Me Thru is now rated by the New Zealand TAB as the biggest threat to his stablemate at Addington at $6 against the $4 price about Sundon's Gift.

Incredibly Sundon's Gift has now run first or second in his last 16 starts going back to November 2009. A record hard to beat.

Trotting fans might have their last chance to get rising Victorian trotting star Let Me Thru at $10 for the Interdominion Trotting Final sometime on Friday. By Saturday it might be too late.

Let Me Thru, a sensational winner of his last six starts, beat the cream of Australian trotters in the Trotters Championship last time out his first real test in the big time. But one rival was missing-Sundon's Gift the defending Inter Dominion champion who is resuming after a letup in the V L Dullard Cup, a time honoured event in Victorian trotting circles. It is likely to be a Lang family benefit. Chris Lang jnr drives Let Me Thru and Chris senior the champion Sundon's Gift. The latter might be a shade vulnerable having been allowed to miss the Trotting Championship series where she would have been running off a handicap in favour of a freshener for the Inter Doms. She has also won her last six straight.

Let Me Thru a Muscles Yankee gelding from a New Zealand mare by Armbro Invasion, has now won 15 races and has hardly ever been out of the money in his career. His performance on Friday may well prove a key to the Inter Dominion outcome.

Trainer Tim Butt has warned punters not to underrate Choise Achiever in the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships starting at Addington on March 25.

Choise Achiever was at $31 to win the Final in fixed odds on Friday but Tim rates him a better chance than that.

"Stunin Cullen is obviously our number one at this stage and while he will be hard to beat he was not specifically designed for the Inter Dominions. Choise Achiever has had it as his mission all along. He has been designed for it. I think the four year olds will play a big part in this series'' Tim said.

Stunin Cullen was equal third favourite with Mr Feelgood and Monkey King in the fixed odds this week at $7.

"If you have a look at the Interdominions of the past there is always a horse or two which just pops up. I think our four year olds are pretty smart this season and I reckon it will be one of them at Addington. We have set Choise Achiever for it all along''

So far, so good. The Courage Under Fire gelding, which showed remarkable potential earlier in his career and has now bounced back to theat sort of form, has won his last six races, the latest the Pelorous Classic at Blenheim on January 16.

Among Choise Achiever's owners are connections of Flashing Red, the maker of many special Addington memories for Tim and Anthony Butt.

Stunin Cullen's triumphs in Australia have raised his Inter Dominion profile further but first there is the Auckland Cup.

"He is doing a round trip and it makes it so much easier. He has flown into Auckland from Sydney and he can fly home to Christchurch straight away after the Auckland Cup.'' I hoppled him this morning (Friday) and he's fine.''

Experience has taught Premier Stables not to aim at one carnival such as the Inter Dominions with an established star like Stunin Cullen.

"If you missed races like the Hunter Cup to get specially ready and put all your eggs in one basket you only need something to go wrong in the heats and you have missed out on more than one big race. We don't do that any more''

"He seems to be thriving on it and he didn't have really hard races over there so all is well with him at the moment.''

Another stat to carry in the memory is that Premier Stables have won four Interdominion finals, a record hard to match, including the Brisbane final in 2008 with Mr Feelgood. Lyell Creek and Take a Moment (two) were superstar trotters of their time.

Only Vulcan is left as a contender for the trotting section this year.

"He was going good until his last start and he will peak for the series. He deserves his chance but I feel myself it might be a year too soon for him.''

Mr Feelgood ran a sensational mile rate of 1:53.6 over 1660m on a track affected by rain in Brisbane on Tuesday suggesting he is fit and well for the upcoming Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion championships which begin on March 25 in Christchurch.

"He is ready to go. He felt absolutely super today and did it well within himself'' driver Luke McCarthy told Chris Barsby of Harness Racing Australia.

"We hope to give him three starts here before heading direct to Christchurch. Right now he is about 90 per cent fit.''

Mr Feelgood a former American classic winner, was trained by Tim Butt to win the Inter Dominion final two years ago. He has not raced since winning the $500,000 Victoria Cup on December 18.

Mr Feelgood will be based at David and Catherine Butt's Woodend stable during the Inter Dominions.

Every harness fan in Australasia and a good number of industry executives have their fingers crossed that the great Australian pacer Blacks a Fake can yet make it to the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominions at Addington beginning March 25.

Blacks a Fake suffered cardiac arrhythmia after a workout on Saturday in Brisbane and Natalie Rasmussen told Harness Racing Australia correspondent Chris Barsby the trip to Christchurch was in doubt.

"He didn't feel right in his work and tests showed the heart irregularity'' Rasmsussen said. A similar incident last July caused Blacks a Fake to be sent to the spelling paddock. He has not raced since New Year's Day after a sensational effort in the Miracle Mile in December.

"Its shattering news. We are hoping he will be back to normal after the weekend and that is when decisions will be made'' Rasmussen said.

"The horse's welfare has always come first and we will not be rushing into any decisions at this stage''

Blacks a Fake is an $8 fourth favourite for the Inter Dominions and the top ranked horse after an unprecedented four Inter Dominion titles. He would be a huge attraction at the carnival as the $5m winner has never raced in this country.

The headlines were all about Auckland Reactor's influence on the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships beginning March 25 after his sensational win in the IRT Mile in record time on Saturday. But about 15 hours previously something of even greater significance occurred.

The Reactor was always going to be an Inter Dominion factor. His sheer ability ensured that even if a number of top horses were lined up against him. But there were more question marks over the Purdon/Payne trotter Lets Get Serious.

Could a veteran trotter return from the United States and come off a long spell to be truly competitive at the Inter Dominions so soon ?

It appears the answer is yes.

Lets Get Serious did not pay a dividend at Addington on Friday but there were more punters talking about his effort than just about any other run on the night perhaps bar the close finish between De Lovely and Nearea Franco in the Breeder's Stakes.

Lets Get Serious was having his first race in a year and his first in New Zealand in four years. He had had two trials but the second had become a non event after he backed away at the start and took no serious part.

"Because of that probably I expected he would need two races before he started showing what he could do. So how he went on Friday was a bit of surprise'' Mark Purdon said.

Lets Get Serious put in a big run down the back from far back in the field and at the 400m briefly looked as though he would cause a major upset. But his condition gave out in the straight even though he finished right behind the placegetters.

Mark Purdon summed up the situation well.

"He is a definite contender for the Inter Dominions now no doubt about that. He trotted extra good when he got going and should only improve''

Auckland Reactor, with something to prove, proved it surging to the front half way through the Mile and rarely being under pressure after that.

"He did everything I could have expected and in fact he did more than I expected'' Mark said.

"It was a huge relief and he should only get better''

Some of the new Australian owners of Auckland Reactor were on hand for the presentation. Who knows "Inter Dominion'' might have a special meaning for them come April 8.

Those looking for an odds bet in the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Pacing Championships at Addington starting March 25 should keep a close eye on the Australian Pacing Championship in Perth this weekend.

Among the entries is Ima Spicey Lombo a mare which has made great progress since moving to Perth from Victoria last year.

In fact so much progress she went from on the borderline of elimination for the pacing series on 36 in the first rankings to 17th on the second, the biggest jump made in the rankings to date. However the TAB bookies have taken no notice of that. She is at $151 for the Inter Dominion series.

Ima Spicey Lombo has drawn gate six in the Championship which won't help but with Ima Mightyquinn out of the way her driver, Chris Lewis, still rates her a good chance. No wonder. In her last two starts Ima Spicey Lombo has been third behind Im Themightyquinn in both the Fremantle and West Australia Cups, which judging on Im Themightyquinn's sensational finish in the Hunter Cup is very good form.

Ima Spicey Lombo is trained by Ross Olivieri who knows a thing or two about training good horses. It might well be that Ima Spicey Lombo's performance in the championship that decides the trip to New Zealand.

Oliveri and Lewis have been a powerful combination in West Australian racing in the last few years, Lewis the leading driver while Oliveri has trained nearly 800 city winners.

Ima Spicey Lombo has won 21 races and over $350,000, much of it in the last nine months.

BLACKS A FAKE clocked a mile rate of 1:57.9 over 1666m to beat Mr Feelgood in a trial at Albion Park on Tuesday thrilling trainer Natalie Rasmussen.

"He felt good and will improve heaps with that little hit out'' she told Chris Barsby of the Harness Racing Australia newsroom. Blacks a Fake cut out his last 400m in 27.6. He remains at a tempting $8 for the $1m Christchurch Casino sponsored Final at Addington on April 8.

Luke McCarthy was also pleased with Mr Feelgood but will be looking for something a bit stronger next week when the horse has another trial.

"Next time it will be more serious'' he said.

McCarthy will give Mr Feelgood most of his preparation for Addington in Queensland but Blacks a Fake is headed over early in March to prepare for his final hitouts from the All Star stables at Rolleston.

Outstanding Swedish Trotting Mare, Annicka who has the 2011 Dream With Me Stables, Inter Dominion Trotting Championships firmly in her sights, arrived safely in New Zealand yesterday morning after a 30 hour flight from England over the weekend.

The brilliant 6yo mare arrived in fine fettle and travelled exceptionally well during the long distance flight. “She ate and drank throughout the entire trip and her temperature was normal on arrival, so overall we are very happy with her” her groom Lisa Gustaffson-Manson said shortly after touching down in Auckland.

Annicka will spend two weeks in quarantine in Auckland before she rounds off her final preparations aimed at capturing the greatest Trotting race in Australasia. She has won 12 races including the Swedish Oaks and 4yo Breeders Crown (Scandanavia) from 33 lifetime starts and has amassed $2.67 million Swedish Krona (NZ $503,000) in earnings. Her fastest winning mile rate of 1.55.0 was recorded in May 2010.

Annicka is prepared by leading Swedish trainer/driver Jorgen Westholm who will also be driving the mare during the Inter Dominion Championships in New Zealand.

When it comes to the best Australasian Trotters, Westholm is not a stranger, having witnessed firsthand the likes of Pride Of Petite, Knight Pistol, Lyell Creek and Sundons Gift race in Scandanavia during the last 15 years. He is not daunted by taking on the best in New Zealand and Australia with his brilliant mare.

Champion Australian squaregaiter Sundons Gift travelled to Scandanavia in 2009 to race in Sweden’s great Elitloppet Trotting Series. He could only manage a 6th in his Elimination, beaten some 8 lengths behind Jaded who subsequently went on to finish 2nd in the Final.

Annicka has been highly competitive with Jaded and 2010 Elitloppet winner, Iceland in recent starts and three starts back she won, defeating the flying Jaded.

NZMTC Chief Executive Shane Gloury said that his Club was delighted that Annicka had arrived safely in New Zealand.

“Annicka’s form against some of the best Trotters in the world is very good. She is a high speed mare that looks well suited to our style of racing. Her presence in the Dream With Me Stables, Inter Dominion Trotters Championship will create enormous international interest amongst a star studded line-up of Australasian Trotters headlined by Sundons Gift, Let Me Thru, I Can Doosit, Down Under Muscles, Stylish Monarch and former American Trotter Let’s Get Serious.” Annicka is expected to have a lead up race in New Zealand prior to the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships commencing at Addington on Friday 25 March.

The 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships will be conducted at Addington Raceway from Friday 25 March through until Friday 8 April. Tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.addington.co.nz

Annicka’s win in the 2008 Swedish Trotting oaks can be viewed online via the following link www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QTm8NbvVRY The 2nd Elimination of the 2009 Elitloppet featuring Jaded and Sundons Gift can also be viewed online via the following link www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8pvRR6hjsM

Addington Raceway chief executive, Shane Gloury, hopes connections of horses like Franco Nester will make a close study of the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion points system before making any final decisions regarding coming over from Australia for the 2011 series beginning March 25.

Marty Herbert cited the two heat system in the Australian media as a factor in his recommendation that Franco Nester did not make the trip to Christchurch saying that a bad draw in the first round could count a horse out of contention for the series.

However the club anticipated this problem with significant changes to the points system to avoid a "sudden death'' scenario.

"To safeguard against this we have introduced a new points system whereby horses which further back than seventh don't earn any points'' Shane Gloury said.

"This ensures that a horse which finishes first or second in one heat is virtually guaranteed to make the final field. That also means a horse can get knocked over or otherwise be a victim of bad luck in one heat and finish last but make the final by running second in the other heat''

In the pacing heats points in each heat go eight for the winner and six for the second horse then four, three two and one for the sixth horse.

A sustaining fee of $1500 is due on Monday which should give the clearest picture yet of how the series is shaping in terms of Australian numbers. The Racing Board is likely to offer its belated fixed odds market following this payment.

FRANCO NESTER seems likely to be withdrawn from the Inter Dominion series which begins at Addington on March 25.

Marty Herbert, the ex-Kiwi who trains the New Zealand-bred pacer, has recommended a withdrawal to the owners after Franco Nester disappointed at Menangle last week after trialling well.

Franco Nester was rated 26th in the latest Inter Dominion standings and would easily have made the top 36.

"Its a $20,000 gamble to go over there and if you draw badly in the first heat the trip is all but over'' Herbert told the Harness Racing Australia website.

"I sold the idea of going over to the owners but I think now we are better staying here and finding something easier for him.''

The Bettor's Delight gelding, which has won over $255,000 did not race in New Zealand.

BLACKS A FAKE is due to trial next week heading toward a historic tilt at a fifth Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championship at Addington on April 8

The champion has been off the scene since winning the Christmas Cup in Brisbane on December 18 but has been thriving in the interim according to trainer, Natalie Rasmussen.

"He is good to go again and he will probably have two trials and possibly a race here before travelling over to Christchurch'' Rasmussen told Chris Barsby on the Harness Racing Australia site.

The champion's trial will either be on Tuesday or Thursday and means Blacks a Fake may meet Mr Feelgood who is also winding up his Inter Dominion preparation.

REACTOR INTERDOM TRIAL

Auckland Reactor again reminded everyone his Inter Dominion grading of 19 might be a little low with another impressive trial at Motukarara yesterday.

Acclerating out of the gate with speed co-trainer Grant Payne has rarely experienced in the cart, Auckland Reactor led all the way in 2:47.9 sprinting his last 400m in 26.8 winning easily by three lengths.

That might provoke a “so what ?'' reaction but wait, there's more.

“The horse has done what was wanted and so have I'' Payne said.

“Mark wanted him to run about 2:47 and we have done that and he wanted him to sprint out of the gate and we have done that. I got him his first 200m in 12.5. He ran his last quarter with the ear plugs still in''

Mark Purdon is in Australia this week but it is all systems go for the Ashburton Flying Mile now for Auckland Reactor. After that, well, who knows ? One thing seems certain. That Inter Dominion rating is due for a review any time soon.

HUNTER CUP AND RANKINGS

IM THEMIGHTYQUINN has celebrated his rise in the Inter Dominion rankings from 7th to 5th after two Group One wins in Perth by being the $2.50 favourite to win the $A425,000 Hunter Cup on Saturday-a race which will be a vital guide to the Christchurch Casino $1m Grand Final at Addington on April 8.

Im Themightyquinn's form has been such that he is at short odds even though he is the only horse handicapped in the standing start race. Another win like the last two and he will be challenging those at the top of the rankings before much longer.

The other big mover in the rankings (14 to7) STUNIN CULLENis equal second favourite for the Hunter Cup with Smiling Shard at $5.50 -not perhaps the odds most Kiwis would let him stay at for long after his sensational performance at Ballarat last week.

On the other hand SMOKEN UP 's 3rd placing could come under pressure. He has been pulled out of the Hunter Cup after a lacklustre performance at Ballarat.

The Cup run at 11. 30 NZ time has several other Inter Dominion candidates looking for a bold showing before heading for New Zealand.

Among them is local hero (THE) SLEEPY TRIPP which never got into the Ballarat Cup.

"He just didn't feel himself. I was a bit worried about his state of mind going to the track but there did not appear to be anything wrong with him'' driver Mark Purdon said.

"He was never travelling like he should have been. But he seems good as gold since''

Sleepy Tripp starts from the unruly position in the Hunter Cup and standing starts have been an issue for him lately. But the distance and the big track will be much better for him this week.

THE GREATEST INTER DOM DRIVE OF ALL?

Addington hosted its second Inter Dominion Championship in February 1951, and guess what- it rained.

Both the first and the second days had to be postponed, the first day from a Saturday to a Thursday which was to be the original second day. Saturday February 17 becoming the second day instead of the third. The third day was held on Thursday February 21 and the day was beautifully fine for Grand Final day on February 24. one of the great days in New Zealand harness racing.

The climax was the pacing Grand Final won by Vedette, regarded by Maurice Holmes as the best horse he trained. But it was his drive which was the talk of the town, and of the country, and of Australasia. Some people still regard it as as good a drive as ever seen in a championship race on either side of the Tasman.

Vedette was seventh with only 400m to go but locked among horses on the fence while Zulu, the best horse ever trained at Charteris Bay, was leading. For once, the experts in the packed stands believed, Addington's idol driver had got it wrong..

Holmes was famous for his "short way home'' driving tactics, often relying on a gap at the right time to get off the fence and challenge. Horses driven by Holmes didn't always win but they almost always covered less ground than any other horse in the race. On this day however, with Vedette a 3/1 favourite with the public things did look grim.

How Holmes "threaded Vedette through the eye of a needle'' as local reporter Karl Scott famously said could not be believed even by those watching it. Perhaps a plea here and a nudge there helped. Addington in those days had no passing lane but a stout fence which top drivers could use as lanching pad sometimes helped. But there was no interference.

It didn't help young Derek Jones, then a rising star among trainers, who trained and drove Soangetaha, a four year old-they were rare in big races then-, into second place. One moment Derek must have been savouring the enormous first prize of 6000 pounds and the next settling for second (still an impressive 2000 pounds) with Parawa Derby and Dragoman next home. It was the richest harness race run in the southern hemisphere and Vedette clocked 58.8 for his last 800m which was sensational time in those days.

There were no Australan horses at the meeting but that era was probably the golden one for open class pacers here and and nobody complained.

Strangely, perhaps, since he was the favourite for the final, Vedette did not win a heat. Soangetaha won two while Aqua Lady owned trained and driven by another young horseman making his way in a tough world, Pat O'Reilly, won the last heat to make the Final.

Another famous four year old, Young Charles, was second in the Consolation to Maori Home a well known free for all winner of the era trained and driven by Vic Alborn. Captain Sandy (off 36 yards hand handicapped out of it ) Burns Night, Blue Mist and Chamfer were other stars in attendance,.

Gay Belwin owned by Elizabeth Berryman of Wellington and trained by Jimmy Young at Addington won the trotting Grand Final from Signal Light, driven by Gavin Hampton. Gavin is the only survivor among drivers who featured in the Grand Finals that year though Jack Carmichael drove a placegetter in a supporting event.

The trotters field featured many names still familiar to those with memories of the golden era. Dictaion, a heat winner, once held all but two New Zealand records over all distances. Barrier Reef, Highland Kilt, Gold Horizon and Swanee River were other stars of the time.

Betting turnover would have made today's administrators go to the cupboard for a celebratory drink. The turnover on final day was 214,000 pounds and for the meeting a record 649,000 pounds, about 200,000 pounds more than the cup meeting. The turnover on Grand Final day was better than the Centennial New Zealand Cup day the previous November when the feature was won by another Maurice Holmes trained and driven horse, Chamfer.

But it was the Vedette drive in the championship final which sealed the greatness of Maurice Holmes even if other trop drivers could only wonder what magic he summoned up to achieve it.

AUCKLAND REACTOR BLAZED INTO INTERDOMINION CONTENTION

Auckland Reactor blazed into Inter Dominion contention with a brilliant last 400m to win his comeback trial at Ashburton yesterday.

Though the overall time of 3:04.9 was nothing sensational, Auckland Reactor came from last at the 500m, swept wide at the turn and beat five rivals with ease in the end by a neck. The official last 800m was 55.8 and the 400m 27 but private clockers timed Auckland Reactor to run his last 800m in 53.9 and the 400m in 26. Mark Purdon had it even faster.

“I got him for the 400m in 25.5'' he said.

“It was a very pleasing trial though probably what I expected. He should not take long to come to it and as I have said the real test will be raceday '' That should be the February 12 mile at Ashburton.

Auckland Reactor, the favourite for the Inter Dominion final in one Australian fixed odds market. Is on the way back from a failed American campaign which precipitated a wind operation which appears to have been successful judging by this run.

Purdon produced a number of smart two year olds at yesterday's trials and may have four runners in the Teltrac Sapling Stakes at Ashburton also on February 12.

MR FEELGOOD

A change of plan means Mr Feelgood will miss the Auckland Cup in March in favour of an exclusive Inter Dominion campaign.

"I have had a look at the Auckland Cup and decided it could be too tough on him (to race there and Addington)'' McCarthy said.

Mr Feelgood will remain in Queensland until just before the Addington championships, McCarthy said.

WHEN U SCOTT WAS AN INTER DOMINION VILLIAN

U Scott is now known as one of the greatest stallions ever to stand in New Zealand. But in 1938 he was the crowd's villain in one of the biggest demonstrations against a Inter Dominion heat winner recorded in New Zealand. The drama dragged on for months with confusing judicial decisions and even his owner, J R McKenzie (later Sir John) was issuing public statements to clear his reputation.

U Scott was an American horse which was brought out as a stallion prospect but raced in between recurring foot problems. The first Inter Dominions at Addington were a big attraction for McKenzie, a leading owner, and he was prepared for the series in a pressure cooker preparation.

In the first of three heats he galloped badly at the start but made a lot of ground late and punters marked him as one to follow through the series.

In the second heat he pulled fiercely throughout the race and dropped right out. By now the public had tired of the handsome American horse.

In the third heat U Scott appeared in half blinds. The public were not aware of this nor the drama behind it. U Scott relaxed in the race, trailed the leaders, and won easily at long odds. The crowd went wild.

It turned out that the stipendiary stewards had refused permission for the horse to have a gear change but some members of the judicial committee, under pressure from McKenzie, overruled this.

Bert Stafford, the owner of Pot Luck which had finished second,protested on the grounds that the winner had run in unauthorised gear. It was rejected. He then appealed to the Trotting Conference whose panel came up with a rare decision. It fined McKenzie 25 pounds for using unauthorised gear and 30 pound costs but stated that it would not disqualify the horse from the race, a split decision which confused the public.

JR McKenzie issued a number of statements over the issue and promised to donate the winning stake to the Returned Servicemen's Association, which he did. U Scott was unplaced in the final and never raced again.

He was later to become the country's most famous stud horse. But in April 1938 he was the most reviled race horse in New Zealand.

IM MIGHTYQUINN

ImThemightyquinn signalled his intention to make the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion his own with his second Group One win in a week, taking the West Australia Pacing Cup albeit in the slowest mile rate (2:01) in the race history.

The former Cantabrian had won the Fremantle Cup, also a Group One race, last week and overcame a wide draw with ease on Friday suggesting he is back to his brilliant best.

Im Themightyquinn, a regular drive of Ricky May when trained in New Zealand, has a tough assignment beating horses like May's current drive, Monkey King, but his chances can be better assessed after he clashes with Kiwi Sleepy Tripp and Australian eastern state stars such as Smoken Up in the Hunter Cup ($A425,000) on February 5.

Whether justified or not-and champions like Preux Chevalier often proved it was not-Perth-trained horses have not always shown their best form when moving east. But Im Mightyquinn, proven in New Zealand in his early days, may well prove an exception. Then it will be Addington or bust.

MR FEELGOOD

Former Inter Dominion champion Mr Feelgood will have a new home after the 2011 Inter Dominion Series concludes at Addington on Friday April 8, win lose or draw.

The much travelled former American classic winner stunned the harness world with a surprise win over Blacks a Fake at the 2009 Final in the hands of Anthony Butt. He was then trained by Tim Butt at West Melton but, curiously, was based in Australia during that time. It all added colour to the story of the horse, the first pacer raced previously in America to win the Inter Dominion.

However trainer Luke McCarthy who has made a huge impact in Queensland in recent years will move to a new property in New South Wales from Queensland after the Addington series. He intends to set up a new stable of 25 horses at Cobbitty and Mr Feelgood will be among them.

"I won't make the move until after the Inters because there is still work being done on the property to enable it to handle the whole team'' McCarthy told Harness Racing Australia.

McCarthy was originally from Bathurst in New South Wales.

Meanwhile Mr Feelgood has had a three week break and benefitted considerably from it according to McCarthy.

"I missed the Hunter and Ballarat Cups especially to get him fresh for Addington and he has done very well. I am looking to trial him early in February''

BLACKS A FAKE

Harness racing fans will now get the chance to watch freak Australian pacer, Blacks a Fake, in action before the Inter Dominions at Addington Raceway open on March 25th.

Blacks a Fake, trained by Natalie Rasmussen in Queensland who also drives him, already has a unique four Inter Dominion titles to his credit and is seeking a fifth in the $1m April 8 final. He has had a special preparation aimed at the Addington carnival which has meant bypassing rich features such as the A G Hunter Cup in February and the Auckland Cup in March to concentrate on Addington.

"He is due to arrive early in March and as a result he will trial and race at Addington leading into the Inter Dominions according to what Natalie has told us'' Addington chief executive, Shane Gloury, said.

"She is looking for a trial around March 8 and a race at Addington on March 25th. This will be a great opportunity for fans to see a great horse in New Zealand for the first time in his buildup for the Inter Dominions, which will be the last in the series held in New Zealand for many years.''

Blacks a Fake will be based at Mark Purdon and Grant Payne's All Star stables at Rolleston during the veteran's stay.

Blacks a Fake won his first Inter Dominion Final at Hobart in 2006, winning at Globe Derby (Adelaide) the folliwn gyear and Moonee Valley in 2008 beating Divisive and Smoken Up. He was a brave second to Mr Feelgood on the Gold Coast in 2009 but returned to beat Monkey King at Menangle last year. Previously the record for most wins was held by Our Sir Vancelot which won three successive finals between 1997 andn 1999. Since the series started in 1936 they are the only horses to win three or more finals.

QUINN SMOKEN UP

Imthemighyquinn and Smoken Up rated seventh and third respectively on the First Rankings served up two more warnings that the Kiwis will have to be on their mettle to retain the Christchurch Casino Interdominion title in this country after sensational runs over the weekend.

SMOKEN UP won the Bendigo Cup with ridiculous ease and it is doubtful if he has ever been in better form than he is currently. It is still some time before the big guns fire up at Addington but if he arrives in this sort of form the locals are going to know he has been here. He went ot the front early in the 2650m Bendigo Cup and while Melpark Major came up to offer some sort of challenge in the middle strages Smoken Up was always going to win. But what a win. He ran the distance in 3:11 with a mile rate of 1:56 and his last 800m in 54.8.

IM THEMIGHTYQUINN adopted different tactics to win the $A250,000 Group One Fremantle Cup in Perthy over 2960. Regarded as the fastest pacer in Australia the former Peter Bagrie-trained pacer won the same race last year and had too much speed for Washakie with a lightning sprint to the lead down the back straight clocking a 11:57.5 mile rate.

"That was an unbelievable victory.His speed won him that race tonight. He was brilliant''

Im Themightyquinn races next in another Group One -the $A400,000 West Australia Cup next weekend.

SMOKEN UP BENDIGO

Smoken Up is back in the news after the decision of trainer-driver, Lance Justice to run him in the Bendigo Cup ($A50,000) a Group Two event on Friday. He was helped byn something his rivals did not want-Smoken Up drew one.

“I was going to look at the noms and pull him out if they were toostrong but I woke up after they had drawn the field'' Justice confessed to the Australian media.

From an Interdominion viewpoint Make Mine Cullen has drawn four and Standelle has drawn badly but ageing warrior, Melpark Major, not in the Interdominions could be a threat at five if the best Melpark turns up.

The start here-and Justice has not ruled out a change of heart-certainly makes Smoken Up's pre Interdominion journey a testing one. Its the only way Justice and the horse like it..

(Not sure whether you were going to run with Shane's release ? I have done something here in case you want to add to it.

“Addington have pulled off a coup signing Annicka to take part in the Interdominion Trotting Championships on the course in February and March.

Not because they secured a runner from Sweden. That was always on. But because Shane Gloury and his advisers secured a form runner from Sweden. There is a big difference.

Annicka having acquitted herself at the top level and with a 1:55 mile rate under her belt will be a huge attraction. And let's admit it we don't have that many glamour trotters on the scene right now.

It has come at the end of a lot of hard work and a lot of hope. Travelling across the world is something all New Zealanders just get used to because that is where all the action is. It is not always so attractive to those already surrounded by big cities and big races of their own. That her connections are paying the late entry fee surely means there will be not change of plans now short of injury.

For years many people have argued European trotters would beat ours even under our conditions and many more have taken to patronising European trotting stallions.

What will happen when the rubber meets the trotting highway and Kiwi's and Swede's clash ?

It is going to be damn exciting finding out.

SMOKEN UP WINS

SMOKEN UP, or Trigger as he is known to Lance Justice, shortened his odds for the Christchurch Casino Interdominion Championships with a brilliant win in the South Australian Cup of $A100.000 in Adelaide on Saturday night which pushed him into the lead on the Grand Circuit for the season.

The Miracle Mile winner, no stranger to Addington, overcame a bad draw but caught wide for long period before assuming the role of pacemaking and to some degree setting his own rules.

But he scorched home in 27.2 seconds to win easily over Standelle and Ohoka Nevada in a mile rate of 1:58.2. He had won the race in 2008 and was most unlucky when second in 2009. Justice, who hails from South Australia.

“This is just as good as winning the Miracle Mile'' Justice said after the race.

“I love coming back home to Adelaide and Trigger was unbelievable tonight'' the Harness Racing Australia website quoted Justice as saying.

His form means the TAB are unlikely to take any chances with his fixed odds which are due to be released any time -and he has the Nights of Glory meeting to come before being set for Addington in March and April.

STAR SWEDISH TROTTING MARE SET FOR INTER DOMINION

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is proud to announce that its push to lure a top European trotter to contest the 2011 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship at Addington Raceway had been successful.

Connections of Annicka, a topline six-year-old trotting mare from Sweden have committed to a New Zealand campaign that will see her contest the Dream With Me Stables Inter Dominion Trotting Championship as well as the Rowe Cup.

Annicka will arrive in New Zealand with an impressive record against some of the best Trotters in Scandanavia and connections are keen to add the Inter Dominion and Rowe Cup to her already imposing resume.

From 33 lifetime starts, she has recorded 12 wins and nine placings with $2.67 million Swedish Krona (NZ $503,000) in lifetime earnings and a fastest winning mile rate of 1.55.0 recorded in May 2010.

At three Annicka won the Swedish Trotting Oaks and at four she won the Breeders Crown (Scandanavian) 4YO Final. She has carried that outstanding form into open class ranks in Europe over the last twelve months.

Three starts back she was an impressive winner over exceptional trotter Jaded who finished second in the 2009 Elitlopp. Two runs back she finished second to Jaded, while at her most recent run on Boxing Day she finished a close sixth at Solvalla behind Jaded with 2010 Elitlopp winner Iceland third.

Addington Raceway CEO Shane Gloury is thrilled his Club has lured such a highly credentialed and talented European Trotter to New Zealand to contest the upcoming feature events. “This is fantastic for trotting in this part of the world and truly Internationalises the upcoming Inter Dominion Trotting Championship. We have been working for the past nine months to try and secure a quality European trotter to contest the Inter Dominion and Rowe Cup. That hard work has paid off thanks to many who have been involved in the exercise but in particular we are grateful to Klaus Koch in Sweden as well as Anthony Butt and IRT for their support. HRNZ and the Auckland TC have also been most supportive.”

Gloury confirmed that Annicka would be the only European trotter embarking on a New Zealand campaign, with five other European Trotters originally nominated for the Inter Dominion either unable to or deciding against making the long trip. “Keep On Flying was all set to join Annicka for a New Zealand campaign but unfortunately pulled up lame after racing in Denmark over the weekend with connections deciding to pull the pin.”

Annicka is trained and driven by leading Swedish horseman Jorgen Westholm. She has entered quarantine in Newmarket, England, where she will remain for three weeks before flying to New Zealand in February where she will quarantine in Auckland for a further two weeks. She is likely to have a lead up race prior to the first round of Inter Dominion heats at Addington on 25 March 2011.

Annicka was not among the original nominations for the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship but a late nomination fee of $11,500 has been paid to make the mare eligible to contest the Championships. The Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Carnival will be conducted at Addington Raceway on Friday Nights 25 March, 1 April and 8 April 2011. Tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.addington.co.nz

SMOKEN UP TAKES HIS NEXT STEP TOWARDS GLORY

SMOKEN UP takes his next step toward glory in the Christchurch Casino Interdominions at Addington starting March 25 when he lines up in the $A100,000 South Australian Cup this weekend-and trainer Lance Justice is promising fireworks.

Justice has told Adelaide media he is not only out to win the race in which he was was second last year with Smoken Up but that he wants the race record as well. However he has since drawn the second line and so has OHOKA NEVADA a former Kiwi with seven straight wins to his credit in SA. He is not nominated for the Interdominions and neither is Mister Swinger which returned to form defeating Melpark Major last week.

One of Smoken Up's toughest opponents is VEGAS BOUND , trained by Brian Hancock is also nominated for Addington and has a nice draw.

ADDINGTON'S INTERDOMINIONS

"RAIN RAIN GO AWAY''- 1938.

The inspiration for what we now call the Interdominions came from Perth and a far sighted James Brennan and James (JP) Stratton who promoted its predecessor, the Australasian Championship and also the first Interdominions held in that city in 1936. Two years later , after Adelaide held a series, Addington took up the reins to maintain the Australasian angle and introduce it to the New Zealand public. It was a great success with its share of drama and excitement-but oh ! . How it rained !.

During the carnival there were no less than four postponements.

It was to open on Easter Saturday but the car park was waterlogged and so was the track. The first postponement was until the following Wednesday when the first round of heats were held.

The second round was postponed not once but twice, being held on April 23. That meant the third day which was to be on the Saturday for the last round of heats, was moved to the following Tuesday the day after Anzac Day. Just when things were set for a final on Saturday April 30, rain interfered again ultimately being run on Wednesday May 4. The carnival had lasted twice as long as had been planned. The horrors of trying to fit all those postponements into a modern racing diary can only be imagined.

At one stage the club intended to run meetings on Wednesday Thursday Friday and Saturday to catch up. Fortunately for the horses the weather intervened again.

The 1938 championships were also notable for the complicated points system which still confuses many people studying past results.

The ultimate champion, Parisienne, did not win the Final. That honour went to Pot Luck who finished up ninth on the list with 12 ½ points.

You needed a high school diploma to work out the points system.

Each winner of the heats got 6 ½ points, 2 ½ for second and 1 for third. In addition the horse posting the fastest time got 2 ½ points.

In addition every heat winner automatically got into the final. And, in an unusual move, the club retained the right to invite ANY horse into the final if it wanted to. It didn't.

The points were different for the Final. The winner got 7 the second 2 1/2 and the third 1 while the fastest time now got 3 points.

Another unusual move was that the club had the right to handicap any heat winner 12 yds further back for the Final. It did this with three of the runners including Parisienne.

In other words the club treated the Final as the final heat rather than a Final as such.

In addition there were lap prizes of 50 pounds for the horse leading with a round to go in the third round of heats over 3200m. There was a 100 pound prize for the horse leading with a round to go in the Final -won by the great stallion U Scott who spent his final racing days playing tricks on punters and whose win in the third round of heats caused a public demonstration.

In spite of it being a classy lineup on paper with seven Australian horses coming over, three horses, Lucky Jack, Parisienne and Supertax won seven of the nine heats.

The Australian horses failed completely. The best of them was Lady Childewood considered the beat mare produced in Australia -but she was now 12 years old and had come all the way from Perth. To be fair to the Aussies their best horse did not come over for the Interdominion which seemed strange. The reason was handicaps. At the 1939 series for example in one heat he was handicapped 164 yards behind.

He came to Addington later in the year and robbed a New Zealand horse of having the honour of being the first to break two minutes for a mile outside America with a sensational time trial at the cup meeting in November.

Even without this remarkable horse however the first New Zealand series of the Interdominions proved a great success – in spite of all that rain.

INTERDOM NOMINATIONS CLOSE

The nomination of five Scandinavian trotters for the $250.000 Dream With Me Stables Interdominion Trotter's Championship could end up a huge boost for the Addington series but even without them there are plenty of reasons for harness racing fans -and the casual events fan-to start entering important dates in March in their calendar.

Among the 70 pacers and 72 trotters nominated are all the best of both codes in Australasia with the possible exception of a troubled MELPARK MAJOR in the $1m final of the pacer's decision will be there. Addington officials are ecstatic about the potential of this series which rivals any other in modern times on paper.

Besides the known superstars like BLACKS A FAKE, MONKEY KING, MR FEELGOOD, SLEEPY TRIPP, SMOKEN UP and STUNIN CULLEN among the pacers names which are of special interest are AUCKLAND REACTOR, DE LOVELY, RUSSLEY RASCAL and FRANCO EMIRATE, three of them stepping up to the big time for the first time and other trying to get back there.

AUCKLAND REACTOR is working up well with the Purdon/Payne barn and looking more like his old self every day. If this keeps up he will soon be showing his ill fated American campaign was a nightmare which has ended.

When he was in his prime the current Australasian champions were considered to be in danger. And when SLEEPY TRIPP rated a certainty beaten in the Victoria Cup it showed the Australians they will be working hard for their money in New Zealand. Sleepy Tripp is going to win one of our major races any time but he is no Auckland Reactor when the Rolleston Rocket was flying.

DE LOVELY is a serious Interdominion contender though much will probably depend on what she does in the interim. It is a big step for a four year old mare to take on the aged warriors but she certainly has the ability.

FRANCO EMIRATE runs in the Westport Cup this weekend but don't think that is anywhere near his limits. Trainer Jim Curtin likes taking his up and comers on the holiday trip for a bit of experience and with a $1m carrot dangling in front of the big horse in March, Westport is just a step along the way.

RUSSLEY RASCAL is the fixed odds punter's horse. Just going about his business at the moment and maturing into a possible superstar-perhaps even in March 2011.

The Scandinavian trotters, Global Investment, Hot Tub, Joker CN Inzaghi and Keep On Flying. They are entered primarily on the initiative of Anthony Butt who has kept close connections with Swedish administrators since the days of Lyell Creek.

It is a huge ask for these horses because they must go first to England for quarantine and only have about five weeks to get ready for the series here even if all goes well. But the Interdominions has always been a big ask.

Its also a big party. Just note those three vital dates, March 25,April 1 and the big one April 8

You won't be disappointed.

2011 INTER DOMINION GRAND FINAL DATE CHANGE

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) today announced a change in date for the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting. Originally scheduled to be conducted on Saturday Night 9 April 2011, the Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting will now be conducted at Addington on Friday Night 8 April.

The change in date has been necessitated by the recent release of the Super 15 Rugby Draw. On Saturday Night 9 April the same night originally set down for the Inter Dominion Grand Finals, the Canterbury Crusaders are drawn to play the reigning premiers the Bulls in Christchurch in one of the season’s blockbuster Super 15 Rugby games.

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club CEO Shane Gloury explains “The switch is unfortunate but it simply doesn’t make any sense for two major sporting events to clash on the same night in Christchurch. We had been liaising with the Crusaders in an attempt to avoid a clash in dates but the tri nations nature of the Super 15 Competition has not been able to accommodate this. In the interests of maximizing attendance at the Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Carnival, we have little alternative but to now conduct the Grand Final meeting on Friday Night 8 April 2011.”

While the change in date is unfortunate, Gloury believes that a big crowd can still be expected to at Addington on the Friday Night. “We have put together an outstanding night of harness racing that will arguably be, the best ever conducted in New Zealand. We have five Group 1 events set down for this night including the Pacers Grand Final, Trotters Grand Final and the NZ Derby plus a host of rich feature support races. A cavalcade of harness racings elite is targeting the 2011 Inter Dominions including Blacks A Fake, Monkey King, Auckland Reactor, Smoken Up, Sundons Gift and One Over Kenny. They will lock horns with an awesome array of up and coming stars headlined by Stunin Cullen, Tintin In America, Sleepy Tripp and Let Me Thru amongst others. All in all it promises to be a magnificent carnival and one not to be missed.”

The Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Carnival will be conducted at Addington Raceway on Friday Nights 25 March, 1 April and 8 April 2011. Tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale and can be viewed and purchased online at www.addington.co.nz.

CHRISTCHURCH CASINO TO SPONSOR 2011 INTER DOMINIONS

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) today announced that Christchurch Casino will sponsor the 2011 Inter Dominion Championships to be conducted at Addington Raceway.

The Inter Dominion Championships are Australasia’s pinnacle harness racing event and are a classic test of speed, stamina and courage with the very best pacers and trotters from Australia and New Zealand facing off against each other for the ultimate prize in Australasian Harness Racing.

The hosting of the Inter Dominion Championship traditionally rotates between the capital cities of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand with each city taking its turn to conduct the Series once every eight years. In 2011, it will be Christchurch’s turn to conduct this time honoured event with the NZMTC set to stage the Championships at Addington Raceway.

"We are delighted that Christchurch Casino has agreed to be our major event partner and naming rights sponsor of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships at Addington Raceway" said NZMTC Chairman, David Rankin.

"Christchurch Casino is a world class facility and an iconic entertainment venue in Christchurch with outstanding restaurants and bars in addition to an exciting variety of games, tables and machines that you can try your luck on. I am certain that Christchurch Casino will be the hub and central meeting point for many of the thousands of visitors that will descend upon Christchurch for the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships.

Christchurch Casino are fantastic partners and supporters of racing and it is fitting that they have aligned themselves with the most prestigious harness racing event on the Australasian calendar, the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships."

Christchurch Casino Chairman, Barry Thomas, said that Christchurch Casino was equally pleased to associate itself with such a time honoured and prestigious event.

"We are thrilled to be the major sponsor of Australasian Harness Racing’s flagship event and to continue our association with Addington Raceway. The Inter Dominion Championship is an event by which greatness is measured and has been won by many of the great pacing and trotting champions over the years including Caduceus, Cardigan Bay, Scotch Notch, Lyell Creek and current four time Champion Blacks A Fake. Incredibly, Blacks A Fake could be a starter in the 2011 Christchurch Series where he will be aiming to make it an amazing five Inter Dominion Grand Final victories.

We are delighted to be associated with this great harness racing tradition and I am sure that the many thousands of people that are in Christchurch for the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships will witness both racing and entertainment like never before."

The 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Championships will be conducted at Addington Raceway from 25 March through until 9 April 2011. Further information on the format and stakemoney levels of the Championships as well as support races that will be conducted as part of the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Carnival will be released in the coming weeks.

©2010 Addington, Inc.

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