John McCarthy fears Blacks A Fake too much to give him an even break in tomorrow's A$1 million Interdominion Final - and that is the best possible news for the six Kiwis in the race.
McCarthy drives Washakie in the 2300m classic at Menangle, outside Sydney, and holds the key
to the race after drawing barrier one.
With Washakie having developed a new level of stamina since McCarthy starting driving him aggressively in December, and with the gate speed to lead from barrier one, he has all the options.
But McCarthy says one option he won't be taking is conceding the pacemaking role to Blacks A Fake.
"I learnt a long time ago if you give Blacky an easy lead you don't tend to run past him again," said McCarthy, who has lost many battles over the years to Blacks A Fake driving Be Good Johnny.
"Sure, if I led and handed to Blacky I might get a good run but there is no passing lane and then I have to try and run past him again.
"My horse is racing great, racing tough and I'll be leading and trying to stay there. That is our best chance of winning."
The Queensland horseman knows that could set the race up for a swooper like Monkey King.
"But that is a chance I am willing to take. If they are good enough to come over the top and beat us then good luck to them."
Washakie has been one of the revelations of the summer, producing a series of wonderful staying performances since being asked to muscle up in his races.
If he gets an easy time in the first half of the race he only needs to repeat his performance from his Newcastle heat win last week to take an enormous amount of catching. But while Monkey King will likely start favourite on the track where he won November's Miracle Mile, everybody's sentimental favourite will be Blacks A Fake.
He has defied age and two years of dramatic spring form slumps to return for his fifth Interdominion final, equalling Caduceus' record.
While he has won three finals it should actually be four, with only a crazed Auckland Reactor over-racing outside him last season costing him certain victory on the Gold Coast last year.
So he should realistically have been shooting for five Interdominion Final wins tomorrow, a feat which would have gone down as one of the greatest in the history of any racing code.
Because he isn't flashy, rarely wins by big margins and comes from an understated stable, Blacks A Fake's career is still occasionally not accorded the respect he deserves on this side of the Tasman.
But consider this. He has won a staggering 60 of his 81 starts, been placed in 15 others and earned A$3,679,693, which could jump to A$4.2 million tomorrow.
That makes him one of the richest standardbreds of all time, and all this from a horse who never won a decent race until he was four and then had to fight back from contracting equine influenza two years ago.
Blacky is, quite simply, a winning machine with little regard for Father Time, the laws of nature or the reputations of his fellow equines.
No wonder John McCarthy doesn't want to give him an even break tomorrow.
INTERDOM FINAL
* Six New Zealand pacers start in tomorrow's A$1 million Interdominion Final outside Sydney.
* Monkey King is likely to start favourite after a stunning season.
* His cause could be aided by the aggressive approach of Washakie's driver John McCarthy.
* Blacks A Fake is going for a record fourth Interdom Final victory.
TRAINER RAPT WITH MONKEY
Monkey King trainer Brendon Hill has some scary news for his rivals heading into tomorrow's A$1 million Interdominion Final.
Because he is adamant the wonder pacer is in the best form of his stellar career.
"Both Ricky [May, driver] and I am sure he is better now than when he won the New Zealand Cup in November," says Hill.
"I never thought I could get a horse better than he was that week but he has absolutely jogged his two wins over here.
"He is so fit and well I haven't even put the hopples on him this week, all he has done is jog or canter because he doesn't need to get any fitter, all he needs is to stay happy."
Monkey King remains the warm favourite for the final and looks set to settle midfield from barrier five, from where he faces the possibility of getting into traffic problems once the expected mid-race moves start.
"Anything could happen once the mobile goes so I am not even worrying about that. I simply have to hand the reins to my drivers and let them do the job.
"Because my side is all but done and I am thrilled with how it has gone."
Hill will also line up Baileys Dream in the Final and he has basically been on holiday this week after a torrid series.
"He lightened up a touch after his run at Newcastle so I have freshened him right up.
"He had a jog on Monday and Tuesday and I gave him a complete day off Wednesday and Thursday. All he did was eat and laze around the paddock.
"Bailey is a very fit horse and doesn't need any more work. I think he could come out and go a boomer on Sunday."
MICHAEL GUERIN SELECTS
* Monkey King
* Blacks A Fake
* Washakie
Racing: Don't give Blacky an even break
John McCarthy fears Blacks A Fake too much to give him an even break in tomorrow's A$1 million Interdominion Final - and that is the best possible news for the six Kiwis in the race.
McCarthy drives Washakie in the 2300m classic at Menangle, outside Sydney, and holds the key
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