Racing: Bookies wary of an even series

You know an Interdominion series is even when the bookies are too scared to open their first-round markets.

But that was the situation Australia's leading bagmen found themselves in building up to the transtasman harness racing war which starts in Hobart tomorrow.

Unlike last year when Elsu dominated the betting and stars like Just An Excuse, Sly Flyin, Sokyola and Flashing Red were all well supported, this series is one of the most even ever.

And to make matters worse, many of the top horses have never raced each other, making them nearly impossible to rate.

That has sent the price assessors scurrying for videos of trials and usually obscure races to judge gate speed and manners of horses.

Their dilemma is simple: How do you rate a horse like Cams Fool you have never seen against a weak but speedy Lookslikelightning?

Or how does last Friday's Auckland Cup form of Alta Serena stack up against Howard Bromac's recent Victorian form?

Do you ignore Be Good Johnny's last start failure in the Hunter Cup and rate him tomorrow on his Miracle Mile win or was that too long ago?

Add in newcomers like Articulator, Smooth Crusa, Sweet Fame and Napoleon and bookies have been in a spin all week.

So much so that none was willing to open betting markets as they usually would on Wednesday or Thursday, all hoping to follow one of the big TABs when they opened yesterday.

The Herald understands two of the biggest bookies compared markets for one heat this week and one had a favoured runner at $4 while a rival firm gave it almost no chance at $9.

Such discrepancies are unheard of in the small harness racing bookmaking community and with the internet allowing punters from New Zealand, all states of Australia and further afield to easily bet with any bookmaker somebody is certain to get stung over the weekend.

About the only thing all the bookies agree on is Blacks A Fake as the series favourite, especially after he drew barrier one tomorrow.

But even then the difference in odds is unusual - the NSW TAB has him at $5 while you can still get $8 with other betting shops.

Should make for some good punting stories over the next fortnight.

The New Zealand TAB market for the final on April 2 is. - $7 Blacks A Fake; $9 Sting Likea Bee, Howard Bromac, Cams Fool; $11 Be Good Johnny; $12 Slipnslide; $14 Alta Serena; $18 Foreal, Cobbity Classic; $20 Sweet Fame; $25 Articulator; $30 Winforu, Maheer Lord; $35 Camlach, Dinki Di, No Blue Manna, Bobs Blue Boy; $40 Ohoka Ace, Lookslikelightning, Smooth Crusa, About To Rock; $60 Penny Veejay, Karloo Mick, Safari, Napoleon, Tromos, Flashing Red; $70 Sokyola; $80 The Warp Drive, London Legend; $100 Money Magnet, Hexus; $125 Conte De Cristo; $200 Home Of Jack, Mustang Fighter; $400 Flaming Roadstar; $500 Fleet Express; $1000 Poppys Boy.