Racing: It's your series to lose, Elsu

The Interdominion Pacing Final is now Elsu's to lose.

The champion pacer left little doubt with a breathtaking display last night that he will need to lose form or suffer bad luck not to add harness racing's great prize to his already bulging trophy cabinet in nine days.

Elsu left rival trainers shaking their heads last night as he smashed the national 1700m mobile record, pacing a 1:54.6 mile rate without being extended.

He did it by working hard three wide to reach the lead before turning on a display of power pacing that saw him shorten further in Grand Final markets.

Even his unflappable driver David Butcher was left struggling to sum up the stallion's power.

"What can I say, all you have to do is watch it," said Butcher. "He has just set the national record and he had plenty left. He might even be getting better."

Butcher was just as happy that Elsu was able to settle after burning so hard early, coming back to him better than he did when fresh on the first night of the carnival.

While key rivals Just An Excuse and Sokyola impressed earlier in the night their performances were not in Elsu's league and they look the only ones capable of troubling him in next Friday's $750,000 final.

But trainer Geoff Small was not getting carried away. "What he is doing is great but we still have the last heat on Friday to get through."

Perhaps the only weapon Elsu does not possess in his armoury is genuine gate speed but with the final being over 2700m that may be a blessing.

* Howard Bromac made a rare visit to the winner's circle when holding out Winforu in the race of the night.

Both horses are now guaranteed a spot in the final, where Howard Bromac gets his chance to continue a fantastic run in group one races.

Already this season he has finished third in the New Zealand, Auckland and Hunter Cups and in his present form an Interdominion Grand Final placing looks on the cards.

Winforu will give Elsu's trainer Small two horses in New Zealand's richest-ever harness race while Sly Flyin should also make the final after his third last night.

But among those to do their cause little good last night were Australian raider Flashing Red and first night placegetters London Legend and Linford Christie, all of whom will need to improve to make the big event.

While beaten into fourth in Howard Bromac's heat, Sokyola confirmed he is the best of the Australian chances, making up a heap of ground after getting pushed back to near last.

* "If you can't beat 'em ... "

That was the attitude of Australia's champion driver Gavin Lang after driving his first winner in New Zealand at Alexandra Park - behind Jagged Account, a Kiwi.

Lang's perfect pacesetting got the roughie home over Hexus and Just An Excuse in the first of last night's three pacing heats, almost guaranteeing the Canterbury pacer a place in the final.

Lang has long been compared with New Zealand's champion reinsman Tony Herlihy as the best of his generation in Australia but until last night had never saluted the judge in New Zealand.

The fact it came on a New Zealand horse during an Interdominion suited Lang just fine. "I haven't been able to win a race here in the past driving some pretty good Australian horses so if the Kiwis want me, I'm available," he joked.

Lang's combination with Jagged Account's trainer Brent Lilley was hardly new though. The pair previously combined to win the 2002 Trotting Grand Final with Game Bid.

That was Lilley's biggest training success and last night was his second biggest but his reunion with Lang was forced upon him.

"Brent Mangos is this horse's driver but he had two in the race, with Alta Serena also there so I was thrilled to be able to get Gavin to step in," said Lilley.

Last night's race panned out perfectly for Jagged Account, as he was able to use his biggest weapon - his gate speed - to find the front and then set an easy pace.

That meant those at the back had no chance to run him down and he shot clear at the top of the straight to easily hold out Hexus, with Just An Excuse flying into third.

How they stand. -

Pacers: Elsu 34 points; Howard Bromac, Just An Excuse 29; Hexus, Winforu 28; Sokyola 27; Jagged Account 26; Linford Christie 24; Harnetts Creek 23; Bobs Blue Boy, Sly Flyin 22; Mister D G 19; Flashing Red 18; Alta Serena, London Legend 17; Young Rufus 16; Camlach, Mont Denver Gold 15; Ohaka Ace, 14; Attorney General, Bella's Boy, Flying Sands, Mendacity 13; Ohoka Ace, 12; Maheer Lord 11; Country Ways, Eagles Together, Smooth Satin, Te Kanarama 10; Oscar Wild 9; Lee Robyn 8; Glen Atom 7; Blue Chip Rock, Coburg 6; Facta Non Verba 3; Dominator, Scorching, Sand Pebbles 2.

* Points are 17 for first, 14 (second), 12 (third), 10 (fourth), 9 (fifth) and descending by one point for each of the next runners.

* The top 13 points' scorers make the finals on March 18.

* The third and final round qualifying heats are on Friday night.