Rarely has an Interdominion that started so badly remained so full of promise.
But that is what happens when you have the talent and equine firepower of champion trainer Mark Purdon.
Purdon's opening week of the Interdoms saw him scratch his best pacer Auckland Reactor after he nearly died, Pocaro
missed a start in the trotting series and the four horses he did line up last Friday didn't run a place. So why is he still smiling?
Three words - I Can Doosit.
Purdon went into last Friday's first round of trotting heats knowing I Can Doosit would need his outing as he had been transported south thinking the series was going to be at Addington. That meant he came north underdone and was driven cautiously because of that.
For a horse at his best when racing on the speed over the last lap, he finished a brave fifth and Purdon knows he will have a fitter version of I Can Doosit in front of him in the final trotting heat tonight.
"I was very happy with him because I really didn't think we could win last Friday," he told the Herald.
"But he will be a lot fitter this week and has a better draw than Let Me Thru. We will try and stay handier and I am a lot more confident."
While I Can Doosit is best known as a stayer, he did trot a 1:56.8 mile to win the Jewels last season, was stunning over 2400m at Kaikoura in the spring and would have beaten Sundon's Gift over 2240m at Melton in December but for an early gallop.
So tonight's 2200m mobile may suit better than expected.
His danger tonight will be Springbank Richard, a dual Jewels winner with the gate speed to appreciate the 2200m while Annicka will be fitter for last Friday. Let Me Thru is genuine class and can win if things go right, which they rarely do from the outside of the second line at Alexandra Park.
Purdon also has Sleepy Tripp in contention for a pacing final spot but he faces a horror draw at the outside of the front line in tonight's strongest pacing heat.
"He ran on really well last week and I suppose we have to hope for some speed in the race tonight," said Purdon, who clearly will be driving to make the final rather than trying anything heroic.
