KEY POINTS:
An unusual rule has boosted driver Anthony Butt's hopes of a successful return to the sulky in the second round of the Interdominions tonight.
After opening in Melbourne last Friday the transtasman series moves to Adelaide for the second round of pacing heats tonight, with Butt starting his participation after missing the last three weeks through suspension.
He will partner Tribute and Foreal in tonight's 1800m heats and even though they were both superb on the first night they will need a lot of luck from inside second line draws on the tight Globe Derby track.
But they are far better placed than they might have been though, as a strange rule only in use in South Australia will aid their chances.
Under South Australian harness racing rules the horse drawn one on the second line can score up behind the horses drawn one and/or two on the front line, giving that horse the chance of following out either of the front line pair.
The rule is in place so horses drawn one on the second line are not certainties to be locked away on the fence, which is almost always the kiss of death on a track with such a small straight at Globe Derby.
The rule was previously used in Victoria but was abandoned because it caused so many problems yet Butt is thrilled to have it in use tonight.
"It means I will have options on both horses," said Butt.
"They are both flying at the moment, as everybody saw from their performances last Friday so by having the option of pushing away from the markers at the start at least I can put them in the race."
Ironically, Butt may choose to stick on the markers in tonight's first leg, in which first-night winners Tribute and Winforu give New Zealand fine chances.
Tribute follows out Karloo Mick, who was a solid third on the first night and has better than average gate speed.
"I have always been a fan of Karloo Mick and with the short run to the first bend in these 1800m races he might be a chance of holding the front.
"So that being the case I might even end up trailing him on Tribute."
Butt believes he would need a hot pace to come over the top of Karloo Mick or favourites Reba Rajah and Winforu.
"If they all end up in front of us we will need the speed on because even though there is a passing lane there the straight is so short it may not be much use.
"If they go really hard they may come back to him but top horses don't tend to stop much over 1800m."
Butt says he is likely to take advantage of the starting position rule in the second heat, though, in which Foreal clashes with big names Blacks A Fake, Be Good Johnny and Smooth Crusa.
Foreal was fantastic when second to Winforu last Friday after being three wide for the last lap but faces a daunting task tonight.
"We follow out Flaming Roadstar and while he is all right off the gate I think Smooth Crusa will cross him so I think I'll try and poke out behind him. Then I just have to hope either Be Good Johnny or Blacks A Fake attacks and sets us up to try and come over the top."
That heat is the strongest of the night, with both Be Good Johnny and Blacks A Fake needing serious points after finishing fifth on opening night.
Be Good Johnny looks best placed to so with the chance he may be able to muscle his way to the lead. If so, he would almost certainly win.
If he can't then he could sit parked and control the race, as he did when he won his first Miracle Mile 14 months ago.
Either way Blacks A Fake faces a tough night from the outside of the second line. He is not ideally suited by the 1800m and will be three wide at some stage of the race, possibly the entire last lap. While he may be the best horse in the series he is going to need to be to win.
The final heat sees New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red at his own personal series crossroads after a disastrous seventh on the opening night. He will hate the sprint distance yet Butt, who drove him to win the Cup in November, has not lost faith in the ironhorse. "He is a great old horse so I wouldn't be surprised to see him bounce back."
The trotters have their second and final round of heats at Globe Derby on Saturday night.
TONIGHT'S ACTION
FOURTH PACING HEAT, 9.20pm
Most even heat of the night, with so much depending on the gate speed at the start.
If Karloo Mick (1) can hold the front then he becomes clearly the horse to beat but he didn't show real gate speed at Moonee Valley last Friday. Either way, with the passing lane, he is a good each-way chance.
Reba Rajah (3) showed great gate speed last Friday so is a chance to lead and would be very hard to beat.
Winforu (6) was outstanding winning in track record time last week but faces a big task to get handy from the outside of the front line. As a first round heat winner he doesn't have to be sent on a suicide mission. Still, has a great sprint record.
Tribute's (7) draw doesn't look good and is not really a sprinter but if Karloo Mick holds the lead then he could get the perfect sit so he actually still has a chance.
Make Me Smile (8) is badly disadvantaged by the second line draw but is always a place chance.
* Top three: Karloo Mick, Reba Rajah, Winforu.
FIFTH PACING HEAT, 10.30pm
Could be a race in two and remarkably that may not include series favourite Blacks A Fake.
With 1800m mobiles on this track being perfect for leaders expect to see some early fireworks from Smooth Crusa (2) and Be Good Johnny (4).
If Smooth Crusa holds the lead, and he would have the gate speed to do so if driver Gavin Fitzpatrick wants, then he is top pick because the race doesn't appear to have too many attackers.
But if Be Good Johnny, who needs more points after a luckless first-night effort, can get across him then he should simply be too good. He is, after all, a two-time Miracle Mile winner who is almost unbeatable when he leads in a sprint.
That leaves Blacks A Fake (9) in a very difficult situation. He looks certain to settle no better than midfield and may have to come three wide for the last lap, which is a very hard way to win a sprint race on this tight track.
He is such a class horse he might be able to pull it off but he may need a hot early tempo to bring the leaders back to him inside the final 400m.
The same applies to Foreal (7), who gets her chance to extend the great run of Kiwi pacers in the heats.
She was a fantastic second to Winforu after being three wide for the last lap on night one and may end up starting behind Smooth Crusa and getting the perfect trip. She is a must for trifectas.
* Top three: Be Good Johnny, Smooth Crusa, Blacks A Fake.
SIXTH PACING HEAT, 11.40pm
Looks a very good race for Robin Hood (8), even from the dreaded second line.
He was outstanding finishing second to Toe Taper in the heat at Moonee Valley last Friday after racing parked in the track record-equalling event.
Tonight he comes into the weakest heat and should get a perfect run through at the start, with the two in front of him both quick off the gate.
If he can get handy without working too hard he will be too strong for most here.
Toe Taper (3) used the passing lane to beat Robin Hood last Friday and has the gate speed to go forward tonight. He is best when saved for one run so may not be ideally suited being in front.
Still, he was a close and unlucky fifth in the Miracle Mile so makes obvious appeal.
The enigma of the race is New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red (9).
He was very disappointing on the first night and needs a top three finish tonight to stay in Grand Final contention. He is not suited by the distance, track or draw and will have to be every inch the racing warrior he was in the spring to win this.
In a weak field he still deserves consideration.
* Top three: Robin Hood, Toe Taper, Flashing Red.
