Racing: Clash of styles confuses betting on pacers' final

A clash of racing styles and some old-fashioned parochialism has caused confusion Australasia-wide in the markets for Friday's $800,000 Interdominion Pacing Final.

Australian pacers dominate betting on the classic but so varied are the markets across Australasia any one of three horses could start favourite, depending on what unfolds at tonight's Alexandra Park barrier draw function.

Themightyquinn heads most markets from Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood, with Blacks A Fake the only other runner under $10.

But that varies greatly depending where you look, as the vastly contrasting racing styles of the favourites makes the validity of their heat performances hard to line up.

Smoken Up and Blacks A Fake are clearly the superstayers of the final, Themightyquinn the flying machine and Mr Feelgood, who disappointed only slightly last Friday night, the big race expert.

On overall times, Smoken Up was the most impressive winner last Friday but most serious punters expect Themightyquinn to be too fast for him if he stalks him close to the speed.

But if Themightyquinn draws wide on the second line and the favoured runners draw handier, then he could get out to $4.

Should Smoken Up draw outside Mr Feelgood or Blacks A Fake and can't get the lead then his odds, and winning chances, probably drift markedly.

While Themightyquinn is the favourite with most bookmakers Australasia-wide, his quote varies from $2.60 with the Victorian TAB to $3.60 with some corporate bookmakers. The New Zealand TAB have him at $3.

Smoken Up was as short as $2.80 with some Australian bookies yesterday but out to $5 with others and Mr Feelgood got to $7 in Australia on Saturday but is rated a $4 chance by the New Zealand TAB.

Blacks A Fake's odds are just as wild, being $7.50 with the New Zealand TAB but as long as $13 in Australia.

The most favoured New Zealand pacer is Monkey King at around $15 with most bookmakers.

The markets for the $250,000 Trotting Final are even wilder, although Let Me Thru is deservedly favourite with all bookmakers.

Springbank Richard was a $4.80 second favourite in Australia after his booming heat second on Friday but is rated a $7 chance by our TAB.

They have I Can Doosit as the $5.50 second favourite yet the Victorian TAB rated him a $13 chance.

And Stylish Monarch and Dr Hook were opened at $26 by the Victorian TAB on Saturday, while they are quoted at $11 and $13 respectively here.

Likewise, Victoria trotter Danny Cash is rated a $14 chance in Australia but a $61 chance by our TAB.

Smart punters willing to shop around could easily make themselves a winning book taking the best odds from different bookmakers and going into the finals in a no-lose situation.

In other trotting final news, Robbie Holmes will partner Cambridge mare Great Getaway as heat driver Tony Herlihy sticks with Raydon.

The draws will be made at 7.30 (trotting final) and 8.30 (pacing final) tonight.