Racing: Defending champ to assert himself

By MICHAEL GUERIN

If Special Force does not make a stand this Saturday he can kiss his Interdominion crown goodbye.

That is the seemingly harsh but realistic assessment from trainer Dave McGowan two days before the Inters kick off with the $A100,000 Dullard Cup.

Special Force may be the defending Inter champ and has held his own against Europe's best but lately he has been caught in the jetwash behind super trotter Lyell Creek.

But McGowan has had enough and says Saturday night's feature is the right time for Special Force to regain some respect.

"We have to look at getting him to the front and not handing up the lead," said McGowan.

"I know we handed the lead to Lyell Creek at Alexandra Park during the Auckland Cup carnival but that was only our second run back after a big break.

"I don't think we can win the Interdominions trying to come off Lyell Creek's back so we have to get in front of him and stay there."

A similarly aggressive move at the start of last season's Interdoms paved the way for Special Force's Grand Final success.

The Puke- kohe trotter was leading the first heat of the series when challenged by Merinai in the middle stages.

But driver Todd MacFarlane refused to yield and Special Force not only won the heat but the respect of his rivals, enabling him to effortlessly lead and win in the Grand Final.

"It is time for him to stand up and assert his authority, just like he did against Merinai," said McGowan.

Special Force is the fastest beginner in Australasian trotting but was sensationally beaten at Cambridge last start when sluggish out of the gate, which was later found to be caused by soreness after being cast in his stable the night before.

"But I am confident he is over that soreness now," said McGowan.

"He's working well, looks great and is walking freely so I think we'll see the best of him on Saturday.

"And even if he does have any problems we have two weeks before our next race to get over them."

If Special Force returns to his front-running best on Saturday night it will further complicate the Australian debut of Lyell Creek, the hot favourite for the Interdoms.

Should Special Force lead and refuses to budge under pressure from Lyell Creek that could leave the southerner with a tougher trip than Special Force and Mountain Gold and the latter horse looks capable of using the passing lane.

It was under those circumstances Mountain Gold first came to prominence last season, using the passing lane to outsprint Special Force in a heat of the Interdoms.

But after two towellings at the hands of Lyell Creek during the Auckland Cup carnival McGowan is not expecting the northern pair to get things easy on Saturday.

"We have to go out there and try and beat him but Lyell Creek is pretty awesome. Nothing has fazed him so far."