Racing: Local bolter could assist Mr Feelgood's prospects

A 100-1 outsider may help decide tonight's Interdominion Pacing Final.

Because while Pembrook Benny probably can't win the great race, he could win it for somebody else.

The Auckland Cup placegetter has blazing gate speed and the draw, barrier three, to use it.

If the king of Alexandra Park, Tony Herlihy, asks him to explode early, he could blast past Blacks A Fake and be the first leader, after which he would certainly take a trail on the Aussie champion.

So how does that affect the outcome of the race, outside of giving Pembrook Benny an easier run?

Well, it gives the horse who follows him out, Mr Feelgood, a chance at ending up exactly where he wants to be.

Mr Feelgood follows out Pembrook Benny at the start and his trainer-driver Luke McCarthy will be sticking the stallion's nose on the back of Herlihy's helmet and hoping to be dragged through from the second line early.

If that happens he has a miracle hope of getting in front of Smoken Up, racing to the death seat and then copping the one-one sit behind the super stayer.

That would be the dream scenario because if Smoken Up gets to the parked position, the challengers from further back in the field will be nonexistent.

"That is what I would like to happen," McCarthy told the Herald.

"If we can get in front of Smoken Up early we have options and I think we are following the right horse to try that."

Mr Feelgood was slightly disappointing when divebombed by Themightyquinn last Friday but he is a proven elite-level stayer and the perfect horse to follow two warhorses such as Blacks A Fake and Smoken Up.

And where he is early plays a crucial role in the final not just for him but for favourite Themightyquinn.

If Blacks A Fake, Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood settle in three of the first four spots with two laps to run, there are few very pacers left in the race with the motor to make, then sustain, a three-wide move, especially as things hot up over the last 1000m.

If Mr Feelgood is further back and has to come three wide, that could provide a cart into the race for Themightyquinn. Put Themightyquinn in the right spot, following the right horse at the 800m mark, and he will do something special.

Without a decent cart up, though, Themightyquinn could be left with a mountain to climb, as he was when beaten in both the Victoria and Hunter Cups this season.

Themightyquinn has been the star of the last month and deserves to win this final.

Whether he gets an equal opportunity to do so may be decided by lesser equines.