Courage To Rule should have few problems winning on Friday night. Photo / Victoria Harness Racing
Kiwi stablemates Courage To Rule and Devil Dodger have been the big winners in the draws for Friday night's Australasian Breeders Crown semi-finals.
The John Green-Brian Hughes trained pair have both drawn the ace in their semifinals of the 3-year-old male pacing division, which should see them both start favourite
at they chase a top-five finish to qualify for their A$188,000 final nine days later.
Courage To Rule and Devil Dodger head into the huge night of harness racing in winning form but under vastly different circumstances.
Devil Dodger has been racing older horses at Alexandra Park since his luckless second in the Harness Jewels in June, while Courage To Rule has been taking on Australia's best 3-year-olds in Queensland.
It was there that he sat outside arch-rival Lanercost and beat him in his ABC heat two weeks ago.
With both having the gate speed to use their draws it is hard to see Courage To Rule or Devil Dodger missing their finals and the same should apply to Canterbury pacer Franco Jamar, who has drawn to trail Devil Dodger.
But last season's juvenile ABC winner, fellow Kiwi pacer Smiling Shard, faces a much more testing task, off a wide second-line draw in the stronger of his two semifinals.
South Auckland trainer Geoff Small had a rollercoaster morning at the draws, with champion filly De Lovely certain to start redhot after drawing the front line in her semi. However, stablemate McAmber faces a tricky draw of one on the second line in her juvenile pacing filly semi against top local hope Aussie Made Lombo.
Harness Jewels winner Major Mark will be unbackable in the weaker of the juvenile male pacing semis after drawing barrier two.
Semifinal night at Melton, outside Melbourne, coincides with the big Alexandra Park meeting this Friday at which leading commentators will share the calling duties to bid farewell to longtime resident caller Alby Gain, who will broadcast his last race.
The Alexandra Park meeting will also have a $50,000 bonus quaddie.
