Racing: Swedish trotter ready to take on Interdoms

Lisa Mannberg has high hopes for Annicka. Photo / Richard Robinson

Annicka is on harness racing's journey into the great unknown - and she is set to take plenty of punters with her.

But the incredible uncertainties of a little mare coming halfway around the world to race unknown opposition on a track racing in the opposite direction, all without having started for three months, doesn't faze young groom Lisa Mannberg.

In fact, Mannberg is going into Friday's first round of the Interdominion Trotting Championships confident with the former Swedish Oaks winner.

"On paper, she should win, with her times and everything," says Mannberg.

"But of course horses being horses it doesn't always work out that way."

That is a huge call but on paper Mannberg would be right.

Sweden's trotters are among the best in the world and if Annicka trotted the times she can at home - albeit with different sulkies and a faster mobile - she would win the series.

But as anybody who has seen good horses travel knows - take the European raiders on the Melbourne Cup most years - it doesn't always work out that way.

And it would be fair to say Annicka has had anything but the ideal preparation for a mare who is rated a $9 chance in the series by the TAB.

She hasn't raced since Boxing Day, three months next Friday and of course she was being geared up for a series at Addington, not Alexandra Park.

And she will arrive on Friday night at a track she has never seen without so much as a public trial.

"We are not too worried about the track because she works both ways a lot," says Mannberg.

"You never know until you race them but I think that will be all right."

And Mannberg says the lack of recent racing isn't a major concern either as Annicka has usually raced well fresh in the past.

"I think her first two runs here will be very good and then she should be even fitter for the final."

Annicka has done plenty of strong work at Stonewall Stud's magnificent property and reports suggest she is not a big, gross mare who will need plenty of racing.

If she was among Sweden's best trotters she would have a class edge on most Downunder performers.

But it is impossible for punters to factor in how close Annicka is to her best and the extra difficulties with travelling and the right-handed track.

One man who has seen quite a bit of her is Anthony Butt.

He will drive her in the heat this Friday before trainer-driver Jurgon Westholm arrives in New Zealand for the second round of heats and the final.

"She looks a good mare and anybody who has seen the standard of trotters in Sweden will know how hard she will be to beat.

"I just think it is great to have her here and the more international horses we can get here the better."

Mannberg has been impressed by the trotting races she has seen since getting to New Zealand but rates the Chris Lang-trained pair of Let Me Thru and Sundon's Gift as the horses to fear in the final.

Let Me Thru remains the $4 favourite for the series, with Sundon's Gift at $5.

The big drifter has been I Can Doosit, with the lack of support for him pushing him out to $8.50.

Themightyquinn is the $3.50 favourite to win the pacing series over Mr Feelgood at $4.

The series starts at Alexandra Park next Friday with two pacing and two trotting heats, with the same a week later and the two finals on April 8.