Racing: Gallant Kiwi hope must defy Perth's plunge pacer

Auckland pacer All Tiger will have to defy a massive betting plunge on Themightyquinn if he is to win tonight's A$200,000 Chariots of Fire in Sydney.

All Tiger is the only New Zealand hope in the richest 4-year-old pace in Australasia and will start one of the favourites after a huge qualifying performance last Friday.

Forced to start from the nightmare barrier of eight, which is rarely used at Harold Park, All Tiger galloped early in the 2160m event, which should have been the end of his chances.

But knowing he had to finish in the first two to qualify tonight, driver David Butcher launched All Tiger down the back straight and the speedster still got up for second.

And after drawing barrier one in tonight's group one event, he looks the horse to beat.

Unless, of course, you come from West Australia.

That is where former New Zealand pacer Themightyquinn is trained these days and there has been an avalanche of money for him in pre-post markets in Australia.

"Every serious bet we write this week is for Themightyquinn," said TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glenn Munsie.

"As a harness race goes, particularly at this time of the season, it has been a huge go."

That follows corporate bookmaker Betstar being hammered on Themightyquinn to win tonight even before he qualified by winning his prelude.

Now trained by leading Perth horseman Gary Hall, Themightyquinn was a bit of a one-trick pony in New Zealand, known for his speed when saved for one run.

But like so many Kiwi horses who head to Perth, he has developed more stamina and is rated a $1.90 chance tonight.

Those taking the "shorts" will be betting against a decade of history though, with very few West Australian pacers winning group one races on the eastern seaboard in that time.

He does have the ideal barrier at two, which gives him the option of trying to lead or, as so many Perth pacers love to do, controlling the race from outside the leader.

While the race contains others with open class form, notably Victorian Sammy Maguire, few have the top level credentials of All Tiger who has beaten Auckland Reactor, and ran a huge second to Monkey King in the Easter Cup.