Racing: Draw favours favourite Blacks A Fake

HOBART - The richest race in harness racing may have been decided in a ball room 20 kilometres from the nearest racetrack yesterday.

Because when Blacks A Fake drew three at the barrier draw function at the Wrest Point Casino in Hobart yesterday he all but won Sunday's Interdominion Final.

The Queensland pacer was rated a $1.70 chance on SuperTab immediately after the draw, in which the Kiwis did not fare well.

Winforu was the best of the New Zealanders getting barrier four, while Foreal will start from two on the second line with London Legend one spot wider.

Making yesterday's draw even better for Blacks A Fake and his young trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen was that second favourite Slipnslide has drawn barrier 13, the outside of the second line.

Most experts now rate Blacks A Fake a certainty to lead once the field settles and after his two outstanding front-running heat wins it will take a lot of mid-race pressure to bring about his downfall.

The chances of that happening lessened when the ironhorse of the series, Flashing Red, drew his worst possible barrier, one on the second line.

"We are very happy with what we got," said owner Vic Rasmussen, the trainer's father.

"Natalie has done a wonderful job with him and she thinks he might even be better for the heat runs.

"We wanted a front line draw and he has the gate speed to use it. But in the end the tactics are up to Natalie."

The young reinswoman will have some restless nights this week, knowing she is driving for the richest prize in pacing and is expected to win.

The most likely scenario in the race is Perth speedster Lookslikelightning spearing to the lead before handing up to Blacks A Fake.

"We will be going off the gate as hard as we can and if we lead we would take a sit on Blacks A Fake," said Lookslikelightning's trainer Pat Keating.

So with those tactics now common knowledge bookies will be running for cover, with Blacks A Fake the subject of some big bets at $26 when nominations for the series were taken and as long as $9 after his second-round heat defeat last week.

While he will now dominate betting it wasn't all doom and gloom from the Kiwi trainers and drivers.

Anthony Butt, who drives the only New Zealand pacer to win a heat, Foreal, went as far as to call her draw ideal.

"I wanted two on the second line so we didn't have to get in an early war yet she will get to settle in the running line," said Butt.

"So we just have to hope they go hard and that we can get a break at the right time."

London Legend's trainer Cran Dalgety was typically relaxed.

"A lot is made of barrier draws but a good draw can become a bad one after 200m.

"We have Gavin Lang and he is a great driver so we are still in there with a chance."

Trainer Geoff Small was happy enough with Winforu's draw at four and with his gate speed the South Auckland pacer may even be able to work to the markers and trail three deep.

This would be a handy place to be in a race where third placemoney is worth more than winning most group one races in New Zealand.

"He is fit and well and the rest is up to David [Butcher, driver]", said Small.

"But we are thrilled to be here. That was our aim when we sent him to Australia way back in October and he has now got his shot at the big one."

Meanwhile, Perth driver Ryan Warwick was the most relieved man in Hobart yesterday after his successful appeal against the severity of a three-week suspension he was handed on Sunday.

Warwick was suspended for pushing out Winforu in the final heat and thought he would miss the final.

But an appeal tribunal ruled yesterday his suspension will now not start until next Monday.

"I already feel like the luckiest driver in the race," said Warwick.

FINAL FIELD

The field for the A$1.5 million ($1.75 million) Wrest Point Interdominion Pacing Final in Hobart on Sunday:

* Be Good Johnny (1), Smooth Crusa (2), Blacks A Fake (3), Winforu (4), Lookslikelightning (5), Sweet Fame (6), Karloo Mick (7), Flashing Red (8), Safari (9), Foreal (10), London Legend (11), Cobbity Classic (12), Slipnslide (13).

* Emergency: Safari.