New Zealand's challenge for Australasian Breeders Crown pacing glory has been dulled by some tricky barrier draws.
But things are looking much brighter for our trotters.
New Zealand's two best hopes in the pacing divisions, Smiling Shard and Tintin In America, have both drawn the second line in their finalsat Tabcorp Park in Melton, outside Melbourne, on Sunday.
And to make matters worse, their key rivals have drawn perfectly.
That means Smiling Shard, a crushing semifinal winner last Friday, will have to give his arch-rival Lanercost a big start after the latter drew barrier one.
"That wasn't the draw we were hoping for," said Smiling Shard's driver Dexter Dunn last night.
"Our horse was super last Friday but we might need some luck now."
The draws for the two best hopes ensure Lanercost, a graduate of the New Zealand sales, starts favourite in the A$311,000 ($382,000) final.
Tintin In America, who was an outstanding semifinal second on Friday, will start from two on the second line in his final, behind outstanding young pacer Captain Joy.
The latter is rated a A$2 favourite in early markets, with giant Victorian pacer Bonavista Bay opening at A$2.75 after drawing the second line.
With those two Australian 3-year-olds so dominant in the market, Tintin In America has opened A$10 in early markets.
The only Kiwi pacer to receive a good draw is Flying Pocketlands, who is likely to start from barrier one in the juvenile fillies final, with dominating favourite Lady Belladonna off the second line.
Zenstar has drawn the outside of the front in that final, while Our Imagine Me also faces a second-line draw in the 3-year-old fillies final.
But the news was better for our juvenile trotters, with the smart Pukekohe youngster Tuhimata Glass ideally drawn at barrier two in his A$169,000 final.
He was a solid second in a lead-up race last Monday and looks New Zealand's best chance of a win on Sunday.
Canterbury trotter Landora's Pearl has also drawn well at barrier four in that final.
The meeting hosts A$1.55 million worth of races.
The New Zealand TAB is to cover all events live on Trackside and final field fixed odds betting will be available on all races.
