New Zealand's chances of regaining the Interdominion Trotting title have increased, even though champion trotter One Over Kenny suffered a shock defeat on Friday.
The glamour mare galloped when challenging in the Flying Stakes at Cambridge on Friday night, leaving Houdini Star to lead throughout in national record
time.
The mare's defeat - coupled with the fact Houdini Star and Mountbatten have pulled out of the Kiwi assault for the series - would seem to blunt our chances of maintaining a remarkable record in the series.
But a horror weekend for Australia's best trotters has seen One Over Kenny shorten into $1.70 favouritism for the A$250,000 ($286,000) final on March 1.
That is the price the Victorian TAB will have the mare today after Australia's best trotter, Acacia Ridge, was ruled out of the series last night.
The exciting six-year-old has damaged a tendon and trainer Gary Hoban says he will not be seen on the track again this season.
"It is a real shame but at least it may not be as career-threatening as we first thought," said Hoban last night.
With Houdini Star and Mountbatten staying in New Zealand to contest the Rowe Cup in May, Acacia Ridge was seen as the biggest danger to One Over Kenny, along with fellow Victorian trotter Sundon's Gift.
And the latter suffered a rare Moonee Valley defeat when he faded to fourth in an average field on Saturday night, a race in which Pukekohe trotter Galleons Sunset was also disappointing.
So while Sundon's Gift looks the biggest danger to One Over Kenny, he will need to bounce back to his best form to threaten the South Island-trained mare.
On the pacing front, ultra-consistent Baileys Dream will definitely not take up the automatic entry to the Interdominion semi-finals he earned by winning last Friday's Flying Mile at Cambridge.
Owner Robert Famularo is keen to stay home and target the Auckland Cup with Baileys Dream and stablemate Monkey King.
That means New Zealand may only have one pacer in that series - Franklin Cup winner Report For Duty is likely to tag the series on to the end of his Hunter Cup campaign.
