KEY POINTS:
After months of fighting a war they couldn't win, Australian harness racing has fought back.
Many of Australia's best standardbreds have been hamstrung by the equine influenza outbreak during the spring, which has kept their biggest names away from track.
But champion pacer Blacks A Fake showed he
is ready to make up for lost time with a typically professional comeback in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Having his first start since contracting EI in September, the dual Interdominion champion paced a 1:55.1 mile rate to win over 1660m.
While he was inclined to loaf as he usually does in the last 100m he was still too good for established Grand Circuit star Slipnslide in the first serious race of the Queensland harness racing season.
And although the win was nothing more than punters expected, it threw down the gauntlet to his interstate and New Zealand rivals, proving he suffers no lasting effects from the virus.
Blacks A Fake will now race in the Christmas Cup at Albion Park on December 8 before heading to Victoria, where he will be subject to less strict quarantine protocols than other inter-state horses because he has already had EI and recovered.
That means he could be racing in the major Victorian pacing features in January before the Hunter Cup and Interdominions in February.
His return, along with Slipnslide, heralds the first wave of Queensland stars, with dual Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny to return this Saturday and also head to Victoria in the next year.
And in Melbourne the trotter touted as Australia's next big thing, Acacia Ridge, returned to racing with a solid win at Moonee Valley.
It was his 15th victory on end and along with Sundon's Gift he gives Australia at least some chance of fending off the imposing Kiwi trotting contingent headed their way in the New Year.
That assault will be headed by the Phil Williamson-trained One Over Kenny, who was fantastic even in defeat in the Dominion Handicap at Addington on Friday night.
The reigning trotter of the year only blew out in the last 200m in what was her first race since May.
The $150,000 Dominion Handicap capped a stunning carnival for trainers Tim Butt and Phil Anderson when Mountbatten, the least experienced horse in the field, won after a beautiful drive from Anthony Butt.
He will now have a week off before heading north for what will be an awesome series of open class trots over the Christmas period.
The combination also won the New Zealand Cup with Flashing Red.