Racing: Kiwis benefit amid Interdom confusion

New Zealand's two best pacers have been the big winners out of a dramatic last-minute change to the Interdominions.

The connections of Auckland Reactor and Changeover expected the pair to meet in the opening rounds of heats at the Gold Coast on Saturday night but instead they will contest different heats.

And they could well dominate after drawing well in what are the weaker two of the four heats.

But the news was not so good for fellow Kiwi pacers Mr Feelgood and Gotta Go Cullen while it was disastrous for local hero Blacks A Fake, who now faces a horror opening night.

That was the wash-up from one small change minutes before the barrier draws which set off a bizarre set of events and saw the field delayed by several hours.

The catalyst for the crazy day was when Natalie Rasmussen, who drives both Blacks A Fake and I Am Sam, was informed the pair would not be split into different heats to allow her to drive both.

So she filed a stable change for I Am Sam, meaning she now trains the tough pacer instead of her father-in-law, Bill Dixon.

But because stablemates cannot start in the same heat, Queensland officials had to change I Am Sam to a different heat from top series seed Blacks A Fake, who he was seeded to meet.

Once they changed that though it set in motion a series of other changes as stablemates were drawn to clash with every revision.

So after a giant and frustrating game of musical heats, Auckland Reactor and Changeover ended up in different heats.

The wash-up is that Auckland Reactor will start the hottest favourite of the opening night of the series after drawing barrier four in the weakest heat.

The Auckland Cup champion arrived in perfect condition and trainer Mark Purdon should get a dream start to the series.

"He had a long trip but got here as well as you could possibly expect," said Purdon last night.

"So everything is right on track."

Auckland Reactor meets fellow Kiwi pacers Gotta Go Cullen (barrier seven, outside of the front line), Power Of Tara (6), Report For Duty (2) and Zenad (5) in a heat he should completely dominate.

Changeover's trainer Geoff Small was pleasantly surprised to be dodging Auckland Reactor and he has drawn barrier five against the Victorian trio of Mister Swinger (6), Ohoka Utah (3) and Decorated Jasper (1).

The biggest loser in the shuffle was Blacks A Fake, who will start from one on the second line, a terrible draw for a stayer without any real gate speed.

He now faces a tough start to the series over his least-favoured mile trip.

But the sprint distance will suit South Auckland pacer Awesome Armbro, who has drawn well at four.

The best heat of the night sees Mr Feelgood drawn on the outside of the front line against I Am Sam (2), Iron Hudge (3) and Australasian mile record holder Smoken Up (4).

While he has blazing gate speed, several of those inside Mr Feelgood also have brilliant early speed and his driver Anthony Butt faces a tricky start to the series.

But one thing looks certain after the draws: Auckland Reactor should be an even hotter favourite for the March 28 final by Sunday morning.

GOOD START
* New Zealand's two best pacers have drawn well in weaker heats of the Interdominions.
* Auckland Reactor has drawn to dominate the weakest heats.
* Changeover, who was supposed to meet Auckland Reactor, has dodged him and will also start favourite.
* Blacks A Fake, Mr Feelgood and Gotta Go Cullen are three stars drawn poorly.