Draw brings Galactic Star into reckoning for rich final
A RELATIVELY littleknown southernbred pacer has emerged as the key player in the $A500,000 ($NZ523,850) Interdominion Pacing Final.
Because while former Southland pacer Galactic Star has had a topclass career in Western Australia, he would rarely have been on the radar of most New Zealand punters, even the serious harness racing players, until this Interdom series in Victoria.
Yet after drawing the ace for Saturday night’s 2760m final at Melton, the attitude of his connections could decide the race.
Galactic Star, who won four races in New Zealand two years ago when trained by Des Baynes, won his first night heat of this series using blazing gate speed and has been very good when placed in his subsequent two heats.
His impact on the final outcome has been boosted enormously by drawing barrier 1, from where he looks certain to go to the lead.
If driver Ryan Warwick wants to stay in front that will mean no shot at the lead for key frontline runners Pat Delight (barrier 3), Spankem (5) or Tiger Tara (7).
It would almost certainly mean plenty of pressure to try and break him, and potentially bring a horse like series points leader Cruz Bromac into contention after he fared poorly in the draw, copping the second line.
But if Warwick and Galactic Star’s connections decide the trail is the place to be then either of the wellfavoured Kiwis, Pat’s Delight or Spankem, will fancy their chances of running to the front and therefore becoming the one to beat.
Spankem’s incredible rise throughout this series continued after the draw as he is now the $2.80 favourite for the classic, just six weeks after punters could have got $41 for him to win it.
He has thrilled his Rolleston cotrainer, Natalie Ras mussen, with how he has bounced through his three heats but she has decided to stick with Cruz Bromac as her drive out of loyalty, having driven him five times for five wins.
That means training partner Mark Purdon takes the reins behind Spankem and gives him a shot at a unique piece of Interdominion history. He has won the last two pacing finals driving Smolda and Lazarus so he could make it a threepeat with different horses.
Spankem, who won only once last season as a 3yrold, is favourite over Pat’s Delight and Cruz Bromac is still the thirdfavourite, even though his task looks enormously more difficult as he will not be able to use his gate speed.
Gate speed and tactical decisions could also decide the A$150,000 Trotting Final on Saturday, which, after the draw, looks a twohorse race.
South Auckland trotter Speeding Spur has the advantage of barrier 1, giving cotrainer and driver Josh Dickie options of whether to stay in front or elects to trail favourite Tornado Valley.
The latter has drawn barrier 6 and may even have the raw speed to cross Speeding Spur but if the pair lead and trail it looks curtains for their rivals.
Fields for the two Interdominion finals at Melton on Saturday night.—