Racing: Speeding Spur hot favourite despite bad draw

Speeding Spur is the red hot favourite for the A$75,000 Victoria Trotting Derby at Maryborough tomorrow. Photo / Jason Dorday

It is not often a horse beaten last start is rated a $1.50 chance from the worst possible draw in a group one.

But then again, not many 3-year-old trotters are as special as Speeding Spur.

The Kiwi is the red hot favourite for the A$75,000 Victoria Trotting Derby at Maryborough tomorrow, even though he will start from the outside of the second line in the 2690m mobile.

He goes into the race with a last-start third at Alexandra Park eight days ago but that was behind in-form open class trotters One Over Da Moon and millionaire Vulcan, rare form for a 3-year-old.

While his Australian opposition is solid and he will need to be clearly superior to win, Speeding Spur's co-trainer and driver Josh Dickie is confident. "He had a long day when he travelled over but copped it great and Dad [John, co-trainer] says he has settled in great," says Dickie.

"And I think he will improve on his third last week, so we are happy going into the race."

Speeding Spur meets fellow New Zealand trotter My Arya, who was a slightly disappointing second by her standards at Melton last week, suggesting the favourite will be too good for her.

New Zealand-trained trotters dominate betting on tomorrow's other feature, with High Gait and Conon Bridge topping the market for the A$50,000 Redwood for 2-year-old trotters.

High Gait has been in Australia for a month and has been trialling well, but Conon Bridge beat older trotters from a standing start at Ashburton two weeks ago.

He has drawn the inside of the second line so will need luck to beat High Gait, whose former stablemate Missandei is also in the race after being transferred to Victorian trainer Brent Lilley for this campaign.

All the New Zealand-trained horses racing tomorrow and right through until the Breeders Crown on August 30 get a bonus month on their season, with the Australian harness racing season beginning in September, meaning horses who turn a year older in New Zealand today remain the same age in Australia for another month.