Racing: Anzac twist to Interdom trot final

Merv Williamson (left) with I Didn't Do It and driver Jodi Quinlan. Photo / Supplied

Merv Williamson is hoping for an Anzac victory in tonight's A$250,000 ($321,000) Interdominion Trotting Final at Melton.

Because while he trains the only realistic chance Australia have of staving off the Kiwi challenge in the form of I Didn't Do It, Williamson is himself a New Zealander.

"I'm a South Island boy and still a Crusaders supporter. Will be forever," he told the Herald sitting behind I Didn't Do It this week.

"But I left New Zealand a long time ago and have been training here for years so I'm kind of an Aussie.

"And the horse is owned by a parochial Australian and wears Australian colours.

"So if we manage to pull it off I think I might call in an Anzac victory. Although I am not sure many Australian fans will see it that way."

Williamson is your typical old-school South Island harness racing man.

He is rugged yet cheerful, down to earth and good with a trotter, still a skill few Australian trainers outside the legendary Lang family can boast.

Williamson left New Zealand in 1984, spent time in the United States and has been a quasi Aussie for over a decade.

And he has done a wonderful job of placating the screaming mad man of Australian trotting, I Didn't Do It.

The speed freak trotter used to roar off the mobile gate and then trot as fast as he could for as far as he could. Now he roars off the gate as fast as he can and trots as fast as he can for longer.

"I think it is just physical maturity that helps him stay better now."

That was evident at Ballarat last Saturday when he nearly pulled tiny driver Jodi Quinlan's arms out of her sockets like usual yet still held on to deadheat with series favourite I Can Doosit.

It was a warning shot for all those he meets in the final tonight, one that resonated even louder after he drew barrier two.

From there he has the inside track on one of the fastest front lines ever assembled for a trotting race in this part of the world, with five genuinely fast beginners coming together.

But if I Didn't Do It holds them at the start - and Williamson says that is the plan - then he becomes the horse I Can Doosit has to beat again.

"If we lead and Mark's horse [I Can Doosit] beats us, then so be it.

"I like Mark [Purdon]. We are pretty good mates, so I would cop that. But I'd prefer it the other way," he smiles.

As improved as I Didn't Do It is, I Can Doosit is still the horse to beat tonight. Purdon was castigating himself for leaving the defending champion short of peak fitness last Saturday but the wake-up call may have been invaluable as his workload has been stepped up this week with pleasing results.

I Can Doosit has had issues with the Melton track surface in the past so is no certainty, but if he produces his best it will take a great performance to beat him.

Springbank Richard is emerging at the value in the race as he follows out I Didn't Do It and should sit in the running line and swoop late.

That recipe could also work for Stylish Monarch and Sovereignty, while The Fiery Ginga will be involved in the early fireworks and has had a wonderful summer.

But the race is I Can Doosit's to lose and if he does, Anzac Merv might be the one smiling.

MELTON MAGIC

* Kiwi stars can win three major Australian races worth a combined A$875,000 tonight.

* I Can Doosit is favourite to defend Interdominion Trotting title.

* His stablemates Auckland Reactor and Highview Tommy dominate the Hunter Cup.

* South Auckland pacer Ideal Scott faces a tricky draw in the Victoria Derby