Spankem favourite for Interdominion final
INTERDOMINION queen Natalie Rasmussen has not let Cruz Bromac’s secondline draw dampen her enthusiasm for tomorrow night’s Interdominion pacing final.
Pundits have said Cruz Bromac was put at a disadvantage when he drew barrier 2 on the second row in the $A500,000 ($NZ526,000) feature.
Rasmussen, the winning trainer and driver of four Interdominion pacing finals, thinks completely differently.
‘‘I am rapt with [the draw] actually and I just think it gives me so many options,’’ she told Australian media.
‘‘I think the horse has a lot of strengths, so if they go quick it will suit — I will sit off them.
‘‘If they go slow, I will get amongst them.’’
Rasmussen was faced with the tricky decision of choosing between driving Cruz Bromac and Spankem, who she also trains in partnership with Mark Purdon.
She admitted that her decision to stick with Cruz Bromac, unbeaten in five starts with Rasmussen the driver, was a sentimental one.
‘‘He is just a dear old horse.’’ As Rasmussen has cared for both of the stable’s horses through the series, Purdon will effectively play catch driver when Spankem starts the favourite from barrier 5 on tomorrow night.
Spankem has been the breakout star of the Interdominions, producing three brilliant heat performances.
Rasmussen said she rated the pacer as the All Stars stable’s best winning chance.
‘‘He has just got better and better and I think he is in amazing form.’’
Pat’s Delight adds to the powerful attack New Zealand has in the 2750m final.The Cran Dalgetytrained 4yrold has also thrived during the Interdomin ion series.
Pat’s Delight will start from barrier 3, and Dalgety said it would be a shame to waste that.
‘‘How often do you draw 8 and have to go back?
‘‘We have been lucky enough to draw 3 and there is no sense in wasting it.’’
Pat’s Delight is one of three southernbred horses in the pacing final.
Galactic Star and Maximan were both born and bred in Otago before becoming topclass pacers in Australasia.
Galactic Star, the Tuapeka Lodge product, has the major advantage of barrier 1.
Maximan, who was bred by Ian Bennett, of Te Houka, is rated an outside chance at $A126.
Former New Zealander (turned Australian) Tornado Valley and New Zealand representative Speeding Spur have dominated the Interdominion trotting series.
That is set to continue in the $A170,000 final.
An intriguing battle for the lead is set to play out, with Speeding Spur starting from barrier 1 and flying beginner Tornado Valley from barrier 6.
A topfive placing would make Speeding Spur Australasian trotting’s next milliondollar earner.
Victory for Tornado Valley would cap an amazing rise from Canterbury middle grades to the top of Australasian trotting.
‘‘Never did I think he would turn into the horse he has turned into,’’ Tornado Valley’s trainer Andy Gath said.
‘‘He is a beautiful horse to work with. . . he has got all the weapons he needs.’’