Racing: Larsen tunes his champ for top effort

Kirk Larsen knows Howard Bromac can no longer afford to be a just one of the pack.

And there is no better time to prove it than when the richest Interdominion series in history kick off in Hobart tomorrow.

Larsen trains and drives the Auckland Cup winner who looks the best Kiwi chance of victory in the most open series in a decade.

As Australasian pacing has no champions, there are at least 10 horses who could win the A$1.5million final on April 2 without surprising.

And Larsen says that's why tomorrow's opening round heats are so important.

"With the series being so even if you have even one bad placing you could miss the final," said Larsen.

"It is not like last year where Elsu was always going to win and the rest of us were happy to get in the final and then hope for the best.

"Because of that I'd love to get some good early points so I have him a bit fitter going into the series than he was a year ago."

Larsen spent all of last season parking Howard Bromac away on the markers, knowing he was not good enough to beat champions like Elsu and Just An Excuse. But with them gone, he has been more aggressive with his stable star this season and it has paid huge dividends.

As well as winning the first Auckland Cup of the season he took the New Zealand Free-For-All and was a gutsy second in the Ballarat Cup in January.

That last result may not sound that significant but it could have more impact on this series than any other as Howard Bromac showed gate speed and also earned valuable respect.

Larsen is keen to put both to the test in tomorrow's second mile heat, in which he has drawn barrier two against London Legend (one), Sokyola (five) and Alta Serena (two on the second line).

"It looks like there will be a lot of gate speed, with Sokyola, London Legend and About To Rock off the front line and I don't really want to get involved in that," explains Larsen.

"But I know you can't get back in a mile race so I am happy to go sit parked and I think he can win from there.

"A hard run mile will suit him better than most so I have him ready to go. He may not be 100 per cent for this weekend but he is pretty close."

Larsen is adamant Howard Bromac will handle the rigours of the series better than most, especially as he is used to travelling and has great legs.

"I think we can win it but first things first - make the final. Then it could come down to barrier draws."

Larsen is acutely aware that Howard Bromac could be stalked tomorrow by one of his arch-rivals, Alta Serena, who is drawn on his back and that is his biggest concern.

"While I am happy to do some work I'd hate to have her sitting on my back because she has a great sprint."

While the second of the four heats will be of greatest interest to New Zealanders as it contains possibly our two best chances of winning the final, the third heat sees the Down Under debut of New Zealand's not-so-secret weapon Cam's Fool.

The former US pacer has looked something a little special since joining the Tim Butt stable, with two brilliant trials wins.

He appears ideally drawn at barrier one in the third heat, especially as he has blazing gate speed but driver Anthony Butt admits he is still in two minds how to handle the star's Australian debut.

"Lookslikelightning has a lot of gate speed too and from barrier three they might want to get serious at the start," said Anthony Butt.

"I don't want to get into a speed duel with them but I also don't want to get trapped behind him because he is a horse who still isn't proven at the top level for mine.

"To be honest, I will wait to see how they all look at the start and then make my mind up but I definitely haven't ruled out trying to lead all the way."

That would be a huge bonus for fellow Kiwi pacer Winforu, who is drawn to sit behind Cams Fool throughout and has a great sprint record. The other big gun to watch in that heat is Slipnslide, who has an imposing sprint record.

Butt was hoping for a similar drag along himself in the opening heat in which he drives the second-rated of the stable's Australian imports Articulator.

He disappointed in last Saturday's Bendigo Cup but his blood was not right and he should be a better horse tomorrow.

"He follows out Blacks A Fake and I am hoping he leads and we trail. That would be a nice way to start the series, with some good points."

The value runner in that heat will be Sting Lika Bee, who although he starts from a second line draw was impressive winning as trial on Hobart on Wednesday.

The Butt stable's third representative, Foreal, clashes with Be Good Johnny, Bobs Blue Boy and much-improved Sydney pacer Smooth Crusa in the last heat.

"She is really well but drawn a touch wide. With some luck she can win but I'd be happy to get some good points."

Interdominion Time

Where: Tasmania.

When: Tomorrow (four A$60,000 heats over mile in Hobart); Wednesday (three 2200m heats in Launceston); Sunday 26 (three 2579m heats Hobart); April 2 the A$1.5million final 2580m; $A70,000 consolation 2579m.

Tracks: Hobart: 970m track, straight 200m. No passing lane.

Launceston: 1018m, straight 220m. No passing lane.

Kiwis to watch: Nine Kiwi pacers headed by Howard Bromac, Alta Serena and US import Cams Fool.

Aussies to beat: Blacks A Fake, Be Good Johnny, Slipnslide (all Qsld); Sting Lika Bee (Vic), Smooth Crusa and Camlach (NSW).