Racing: Top Aussie going to Waiuku stable

Harness racing's superwoman is about to team up with Western Australia's superhorse.

In an exclamation point to Michelle Wallis' staggering rise through the ranks this summer, the Waiuku trainer is likely to be entrusted with Australian pacing hero The Falcon Strike for next month's Interdominions.

Trainer Gary Hall confirmed yesterday that he would send the top-ranked pacer in the Interdoms to Wallis provided he comes through next Saturday's Hunter Cup well.

Hall read in the Herald about Wallis' beach training achievements in December with Jack Cade and decided she was the best trainer to look after the Australian Grand Circuit champion.

Hall is reluctant to travel with The Falcon Strike, who will race in the series under his original New Zealand name of Falcon Strike, because of commitments in Perth.

"I am eight wins clear on the premiership over here and I want to win it," said Hall.

"I also want to win an Inter but I know which one I have a better chance of achieving."

Hall is not confident The Falcon Strike will be suited to Alexandra Park's right-handed track, even though he raced well there as a three-year-old before being sent to Perth.

Since then he has been the best pacer in Western Australia and at his peak, the best in Australia.

Last week he demolished the west's best in the A$200,000 West Australian Cup, his third win in the last four runnings of the state's premier event. He was injured for the other one.

But he is best known to New Zealand punters as the pacer who ran Jofess to a nose as favourite in last year's Interdominion Final after being parked for the entire race.

"He has had his problems since then but his win last week was huge and I think he is back to his best," said Hall.

"If Michelle can get him going right-handed I think between us we can give them a fright in Auckland."

Those words will terrify TAB bookmakers who have already been hammered on The Falcon Strike, their worst result in the series.

One punter had $1000 on him at his $60 opening quote when he was not expected to make the trip from Perth and the money has not stopped since, pushing him into $12.

Even though The Falcon Strike may race in Hall's colours during the series, his addition to the Wallis stable continues the unbelievable rise of the popular trainer.

Until two months ago Wallis has spent her lifetime in racing trying a lot harder than most of her horses, who struggled to win maiden races.

But she always had the respect of the top trainers, with Mark Purdon entrusting her with Jack Cade in an effort to keep him sound for the summer.

Together the pair won the Summer Cup and since then Wallis has not looked back.

Her beach training methods have transformed former South Island struggler Paris Metro into a group one winner and her stable star is Delft, the buzz horse of New Zealand trotting.

On Thursday night at Alexandra Park the giant trotter slayed the best in the north and is now the $6 equal second favourite for the Interdominions.

"This has all been amazing and we are loving it," said Wallis, who trains in unofficial partnership with her husband Bernie Hackett.

"And to have a chance of getting a horse like The Falcon Strike would be unbelievable."

Champion reinsman Anthony Butt is likely to drive The Falcon Strike in the Interdominion heats, although Hall's son, Gary junior, would take the reins should he make the final as Butt will be committed to Mister D G.

The next round of sustaining payments for the Interdominions are on Monday, after which the composition of the series will be far clearer.