Racing: Blacks A Fake may have run last race

The future of the Southern Hemisphere's greatest pacer hangs in the balance and could be decided tomorrow.

Four-time Interdominion champion Blacks A Fake faces retirement unless trainer Natalie Rasmussen is completely happy with the results of a veterinary examination.

The rising 10-year-old suffered a heart fibrillation in his comeback race in Queensland on Saturday night and finished last of the five horses.

That was his first start since winning his record fourth Interdominion Final at Menangle in March and Rasmussen told the Herald last night the race could be his last.

"If there is any concern after he has had an electrocardiogram then he will be retired," said Rasmussen.

"I'd be happy to retire him because, as we all know, he has nothing left to prove, and he hasn't had for a long time.

"So if the vet says there is any sort of problem with his heart it is all over."

If the ECG is all clear then Blacks A Fake will have a few easy weeks and be set for the Queensland spring carnival in October.

"If he is fine we will take things one step at a time and the main aim will be the Interdominions at Addington in March."

Addington officials will be praying the tests are all clear as they desperately want Blacks A Fake at the Interdominions for what would be his only New Zealand campaign.

If the great horse is retired he will finish with an unbelievable record.

He has raced 83 times for 61 wins, 15 placings and A$4,179,733 in stakes.

Along with his four Interdom victories he has come from a 30m backmark to win the Hunter Cup, has won a Victoria Cup and almost every other major Grand Circuit race in Australia's eastern states with the exception of the Miracle Mile, in which he finished second.

All this from a horse who was severely struck down with equine influenza three years ago, almost ending his career.

"That is the remarkable thing about the problem he had Saturday night, he has never experienced anything like it before," said Rasmussen.

"But his heart has snapped back into rhythm now so we will see what the vet says."

His loss was just one feature-race shock of the Australian harness racing weekend.

Another came just minutes earlier when New Zealand's champion trotting filly Kahdon was run down in her heat of the Victoria Derby.

After leading, she was beaten up the passing lane by Australia's leading 3-year-old Rostervaren, leaving trainer Mark Jones slightly perplexed.

"We had an easy enough time in front and she had every right to win but the winner is a good horse too," said Jones. "I think they will both improve for the final."

That classic is on July 18 and New Zealand's best male 3-year-old trotter Miami H will try and qualify for the Derby in a heat tomorrow.

He has drawn barrier four for his clash with former Pukekohe trotter Tuhimata Glass.

Meanwhile, New Zealand 3-year-old Courage To Rule will need to improve to win Saturday night's Queensland Derby after battling into fourth in last Friday's Gold Coast Derby.

Courage To Rule trailed leader Lanercost but the pair were run over by For A Reason and Motu Crusader, the former being an ex-Southland pacer who produced the run of the race after being parked throughout.