Otago harness horse of the year Majestic Man seems to have secured a perfect starting spot to begin this year’s Interdominion series at Alexandra Park.
The Phil Williamson-trained trotter has drawn to follow out leading contender Marcoola, who will start from barrier 1 in the second of Friday night’s two 2200m trotting heats.
Just two starts ago, Marcoola made a fast beginning from the same draw before going on to smash the New Zealand mile (1609m) record at Ashburton.
If driver Sheree Tomlinson adopts the same front-running tactics on the trotter, who has moved to Barry Purdon’s stable for his Interdominion campaign, then Majestic Man and Brad Williamson would be presented with the perfect trip in the trail.
It is a scenario Brad Williamson thinks is almost certain to play out.
“I am over the moon with the draw and, to be fair, he has been due a decent draw in a good race for a while,” the reinsman said.
“You would be just about guaranteed Marcoola would stay in front. He has more gate speed than probably any horse in the country and he will probably be a $2 favourite to win the race.”
Majestic Man has previously shown he has the gate speed needed to keep Marcoola’s back to secure the prime spot behind him.
The 5yr-old has also shown he loves right-handed racing at Alexandra Park by placing in all four starts on the track.
“Even working right from day one as an unqualified 2yr-old he has been more comfortable going right handed,” Williamson said.
“Left-handed he has had to wear a murphy blind and other bits of gear, but at Alexandra Park he races in an open bridle.”
Williamson will substitute for his brother, Matthew, in the sulky behind Monty Python when he starts from barrier 2 on the second row of the mobile for in heat 1 of the trotting series.
The Phil Williamson-trained veteran comes into the event after running third in the Dominion behind Habibi Inta, who starts from barrier 4.
Monty Python will be out to continue his strong Interdominion form after running third behind Tornado Valley in last year’s final.
Friday first trotting heat is expected to be second to the second in the way it plays out.
Victorian raider Big Jack Hammer has the gate speed to hold the lead for driver Luke McCarthy from barrier 1.
That could hand a nice trip to series outsider Paramount King, who follows him at the start.
The heat features Otago-breds McLovin and Kenny’s Dream.
