Racing: Aussies can still defy the odds

Three weeks ago I left Moonee Valley sure Elsu had the Interdominion in the bag.

Now, with the frightening dominance of Elsu's Hunter Cup destruction job not quite as fresh in my mind, I am starting to think the Aussies can defy the odds and continue to dominate harness racing's holy grail.

Recent Interdominion supports my case with four prepost favourites, all around the $2.50 quoted for Elsu at the moment, have burnt punters for different reason.

It started with Christian Cullen at the 1999 Auckland series. His injury troubles forced him out mid-series.

Then Courage Under Fire stifled prepost betting for the Melbourne series the following year, but smashed into the starting gate in the final and finished back with the ambulance.

The hoodoo continued in the 2003 Christchurch Interdominions when dominant favourite Young Rufus almost died with a twisted bowel and was scratched on the eve of night one.

The Falcon Strike almost turned things around in Perth last year when, after some highs and lows through the heats, he was only beaten a whisker in the final by Jofess.

In one-off elite Grand Circuit races like the Victoria Cup and Miracle Mile, our champions have a superb strike rate, but the Interdominions are different.

Even Popular Alm, Australia's greatest pacer, fell short of winning our most sought-after crown.

For some reason it has been NZ's best pacers, and Elsu is one of them, who have buckled under the relentless pressure of four runs in two weeks during the Interdominions.

Given the mouth-watering list of champion pacers NZ has produced in recent times, it's remarkable to think only one Kiwi-trained pacer - Yulestar at Brisbane in 2001 - has been able to win the Interdominion final in the past 14 years.

It's one thing to say the Aussies can continue that dominance, but who are our best chances?

I am sticking with Sokyola as our top seed. It's been said he's past his best, but it didn't look that way three months ago when he won the Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup.

Remember he has beaten Elsu, Just An Excuse and Flashing Red on their merits at elite Grand Circuit level this season.

Queensland's Flashing Red is a seriously tough customer - he reminds me of former star Kiwi stayer Franco Ice - and will thrive on four runs in a fortnight.

Te Kanarama is an outstanding talent, who has obviously had his early problems around Alexandra Park, but Graeme Watts is a terrific horseman who can turn him around.

The trotting series is a ripper and defending champion Sumthingaboutmaori looks the value runner at $8.50 in latest NZ TAB final betting.

The way she beat some smart pacers at Shepparton last start, Sumthingaboutmaori will run a huge race against Lyell Creek and company tonight and the $8.50 will look great odds afterwards.

It is a tribute to the professionalism and huge stakemoney offered by the Auckland Trotting Club that so many Australian horses will line up tonight.

Nobody will say it, but every major Australian club is in awe of the ATC's effort to raise $1.7 million for the series after taking it over on relatively short notice from Adelaide.

They have been rewarded with the ingredients for an awesome series and I am sure the Aussies will play their part in it.

My Aussie dollars aren't what they used to be over here, so I'll be building them by backing Sokyola to win and Sumthingaboutmaori each-way tonight.

* Adam Hamilton is a multi-award winning Australian racing journalist.