Gary Hall shows his delight as Im Themightyquinn wins the
2011 Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park. Photo by The New
Zealand Herald.
The barrier draw for the Interdominion grand final at
Menangle, near Sydney, has thrown up a few possibilities as 14
competitors chase the thick end of the $A750,000 ($NZ930,000)
on offer at 5.40pm on Sunday. Matt Smith talked to Australian
harness racing guru Adam Hamilton about where the main players
might end up.
Adam Hamilton has seen a few Interdominion finals in his
time, and he knows the importance of gate speed in a major
race.
The 3000m mobile event gives most horses a chance to get into
the race at some point - as does the large, spacious Menangle
track - and Hamilton has been working through the possible
permutations immediately after the starter lets them go on
Sunday.
200m after the start
''Chariot King (barrier 4) has a lot of gate speed and will
get to the lead, but I think Caribbean Blaster (2) will get
across Mah Sish (1) and he'll be in front early just after
the start, taking over the lead from Chariot King, leaving
Mah Sish three-back on the markers. Mysta Magical Mach (8)
will be sitting outside the leader after working early from
the gate, and Lincoln Royal (9) will slot into the one-out,
one-back spot. Terror To Love (7) will be back early, as will
Im Themightyquinn (6). Jaccka Clive (3) has no gate speed and
neither does Excel Stride (5), so they'll be forced to ease
back off the draws. Mach Alert (12) may try and follow
Caribbean Blaster through from his second-row draw, while Pub
Blitz (11) will be four-back on the markers behind Mah
Sish.''
1500m to go
''Caribbean Blaster's driver, Kate Gath, may hand up to Mysta
Magical Mach just to add a bit of spice and give Caribbean
Blaster a break. There's a good chance Terror To Love might
have come around and take up the position right outside the
leader. I don't see too many other moves at this point of the
race and I'm Themightyquinn will still be sitting back,
driven ice-cold by Gary Hall jun.''
Last 200m
''Terror To Love, who will still be sitting outside the
leader, will start to pull away from Mysta Magical Mach,
which means Caribbean Blaster may see some daylight. I'm
Themightyquinn would have begun his run a couple of hundred
metres earlier, and will be storming down the outside. Mah
Sish will be trying to extricate himself from his spot down
on the markers, and will be looking for racing room.''
At the finish line
''I see 'Quinny' getting over the top of Terror To Love, with
Caribbean Blaster getting out late for third. Mah Sish will
run fourth after getting out late, while Bitobliss (13) will
get into fifth with one run at them.''
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