Racing: Howard fares best of Interdom hopes

Howard Bromac is set to be the big New Zealand winner in the first heat of the Interdominions in Hobart on Sunday.

The Auckland Cup winner last December has drawn the best of the nine Kiwis who will contest the A$2.1 million ($2.4 million) series, the richest held in the Southern Hemisphere.

The first round consists of four heats over a mile and with no passing lane barrier draws will be crucial to those hoping to score big points early.

So Howard Bromac's barrier two in the second heat looks ideal.

While he has speedsters London Legend and Sokyola also starting off the front line, if he cannot lead he will at least stay handy and in a weakish heat will almost certainly start favourite.

The heat also contains Alta Serena who faces a second line draw but will be starting on Howard Bromac's back.

While Howard Bromac looks the best New Zealand chance of an opening round heat win there will be plenty of support for Cams Fool, the former US pacer now trained by Tim Butt.

He has been starring at trials in Victoria and contests what will be the heat of the night when he takes on Lookslikelightning and Slipnslide in the third heat.

Cams Fool is an extremely fast beginner but Lookslikelightning is the fastest mobile start horse in Australia and if both want to lead the race could produce some sizzling sectionals.

Kiwi speedster Winforu is drawn to sit on Cams Fool's back so should either trail or be three deep in what is a very strong heat.

The first heat of of the series will see Blacks A Fake start a hot favourite after drawing the ace against Kiwi pacers Napoleon (two on the second line) and Articulator (one on second line).

The final heat sees last-start Geelong Cup winner Bobs Blue Boy facing a nightmare start to the series from one on the second line while fellow New Zealand rep Foreal starts from barrier five against Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup winner Be Good Johnny.

Blacks A Fake remains favourite for the series with most Australian bookmakers, as short as $6.50 in some states and could be as short as $4.50 after Sunday if, as expected, he wins his heat.

New Zealand's challenge was reduced by one yesterday when White Arrow pulled out, trainer Wayne Higgs stating the Canterbury pacer had failed to recover from a virus.

The series will be covered live on Trackside, with the TAB expecting good turnovers after the success of last month's Hunter Cup-Interdominion Trotting Final meeting at Moonee Valley.

TAB bookmakers will also open fixed odds markets on all heats.