Favourite gets good barrier draw for final
Series star Ultimate Sniper’s premium barrier five draw is set to produce early fireworks in Saturday’s Interdominion Pacing Championship final at Alexandra Park.
The already slim chances of the All Stars pacer’s rivals beating him following his three jaw-dropping heat wins took a hit after Ultimate Sniper drew a nearly perfect starting spot for the final.
The stocks of My Kiwi Mate (1), Sicario (2), Ashley Locaz (3) and On The Cards (4) rose after they drew inside Ultimate Sniper.
Though that could depend on how desperate each of their drivers are to find the front with the hope of securing a perfect run by handing the lead to the favourite.
Australian My Kiwi Mate and driver Craig Demmler look to have first option to lead from the inside. The Victorian pacer began quickly in his first two heats of the series, before being restrained at the start of this third.
It will be no easy task for My Kiwi Mate to hold out On The Cards, who has shown blistering early speed to lead two heats.
The Barry Purdon-trained pacer crossed each of rivals in the two times he drew the front row in the heat stages.
Sicario has shown enough gate speed in his career to suggest he could add early pressure to the race.
However, the horse was easily beaten out of gate by On The Cards
in their first round heat. Ashley Locaz looks the least likely of the horses drawn inside Ultimate Sniper to get involved in the early rush.
The five-year old put in two tardy beginnings with a scratchy score up in his first two heats, before being restrained in heat three.
Drivers who cast their mind back 12 months could enter the start cautiously after early rush for the lead did not end well for those involved in last year’s final.
Mach Doro ran second last after rushing to find the back of the leader, Tiger Tara.
Ultimate Sniper is set to do less work to take up a handy position, with the crucial head start he will get over his stablemates Cruz Bromac and Thefixer.
The All Stars pairing look to have been handed a huge task to have to work around the field to get in to the race and then beat their stunning stablemate.
Cruz Bromac and Thefixer are likely to start beside each other, in barriers two and three on the second row, if emergency Classie Brigade is scratched.
The fallout from the Interdominion Trotting Championship final was similar to that of the pacing final.
All Stars favourite Winterfell drew perfectly in barrier two to cement his favouritism.
Brad Williamson will face the choice of whether to let Majestic Man show off his fast gate speed and attempt to cross from barrier four. With another fast beginner drawn inside him, in Victorian Big Jack Hammer (1), it is an option the reinsman may not take up.
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