Racing: Champ gets second-line draw in bid for redemption

Auckland Reactor faces a second-line draw in his bid for Interdominion redemption on Saturday night.

The champion pacer was controversially beaten into second after being pushed back to near last in his opening round heat of the series last Saturday.

Just who will drive Auckland Reactor on Saturday night will remain unknown until after an inquiry today into trainer Mark Purdon's drive on Saturday.

But the one thing Purdon does know is Auckland Reactor will have to start from barrier two on the second line against I Am Sam in the second semifinal this week.

In a heat without great depth, Auckland Reactor looks perfectly drawn behind fast beginner In Monaco in the 2100m heat and will be a warm favourite.

He meets not only I Am Sam but Iron Hudge, who is tipped to be a big improver on his heat run.

While Auckland Reactor only needs to not fall over on Saturday night to be guaranteed a place in the A$1 million ($1.25 million) Interdominion Final on March 28, his connections will be craving to make a point this week to regain respect for the series in which he and Blacks A Fake are the headline acts.

New Zealand's other pin-up pacer at the series, Changeover, has fared better in the draws but will contest the toughest heat of the night.

He will start from barrier two against Blacks A Fake (barrier five) and Smoken Up (six) after he was moved from the heat he was originally supposed to be in to keep horses from the same stable apart.

Changeover could have been the big loser because of that forced change but after drawing well his clash with Blacks A Fake will be the most important of the series.

Gotta Go Cullen is drawn on the second line in the same heat, meaning if Purdon is suspended today Tony Herlihy can drive both him and Auckland Reactor on Saturday night.

New Zealand's only other winning chance in the series, the Tim Butt-trained import Mr Feelgood, has also drawn the second line in the weakest heat of the night, against first round winners Karloo Mick and Diamonds N Furs.

Meanwhile, Auckland Reactor has been heavily backed with most major bookmakers in Australia, getting into $2.25 with most to win the Final.

That was after one bookie bet as much as $3.40 immediately after last Saturday's heat defeat.

Fields for the second round of heats:

Fifth heat, A$65,000, 2100m. - Fleur De Lil (1), Changeover (2), Lively Highlander (3) Riverboat Star (4), Blacks A Fake (5), Smoken Up (6), Ultimate Mark (7), The Maelstrom (8), Emmas Only (9), Dymondee (10), Gotta Go Cullen (11), Tip Your Hat (12).

Heat six, A$65,000, 2100m. - Albert Street (1), In Monaco (2), Iron Hudge (3), Our Malabar (4), Zenad (5), Master Of Disguise (6), Washakie (7), Report For Duty (8), Auckland Reactor (9), I Am Sam (10), Perfect Pegasus (11), Power Of Tara (12).

Heat seven, A$65,000, 2100m. - Destreos (1), Karloo Mick (2), Ohoka Utah (3), Mister Swinger (4), Diamonds N Furs (5), Our Brahman Boy (6), Cincinnati Kid (7), Slipslide (8), Mr Feelgood (9), Franco Liberty (10), Decorated Jasper (11), Our Awesome Armbro (12).