By Michael Guerin
Now the dreaded wait begins for Glen Wolfenden.
The South Auckland horseman was the most relieved man at Alexandra Park last night when Agua Caliente brought his best stuff to the opening heat of the Interdominions.
There are two Agua Calientes. One is electrifying, producing bursts of speed like the one that saw him make a lightning mid-race move to lead last night before running away with the 2200m feature.
But Wolfenden is now praying the other Agua Caliente doesn't turn up.
That is the Agua Caliente who has been constantly troubled by viral and throat complaints, the Agua Caliente who has cost punters the equivalent of the national debt of a small country.
"The problems he has had usually flare up after a hard run, like tonight's run," Wolfenden said.
"If he is still all right in a couple of days then I think he will get through the series fine. But if his old problems start flaring up then we will be in trouble."
While the dark clouds never hover far from Agua Caliente, Wolfenden admitted he has happier with his stable star last night than he has been for months.
"When I asked him to move in the middle stages he really kicked and he felt like he did in the old days, before the problems started.
"That is the horse I would like to have for the rest of the series."
While Agua Caliente was brilliant last night the performances of Kate's First and Sir Vancelot also caught the eye.
Kate's First stuck on gamely and will be better for the run, while Sir Vancelot handled Alexandra Park well but was never a winning chance after being locked away back on the markers.
He flashed home late and looks certain to be driven more aggressively on Tuesday night, needing points after only finishing eighth last night.
The gap between the best and the rest in the trotters' ranks is closing.
Going into last night's first round of Interdominion heats Merinai was a dominating favour ite for the trotting title.
But that didn't intimidate Todd MacFarlane. The young Pukekohe reinsman refused to yield in a spectacular early speed duel with the great mare and that left his charge, Special Force, in front from where he was simply too strong.
"I knew if I handed up the lead to Merinai over this trip I couldn't beat her," MacFarlane said.
The aggressive move will undoubtedly earn both horse and driver further respect for the remaining heats and the Grand Final, but the race also did little to help Merinai's cause.
The main concern over the mare going into the series was her ability to handle four hard runs in a fortnight - last night's gutbuster will only serve to make that harder.
She fought on well from the trail but her effort will hardly have her rivals shaking. She may be feeling the effects of a corn in a near-front foot which made her look uncomfortable when warming up.
Apart from the winner, Sundon's Way closed gamely but probably should have won after missing the early fireworks.
After the summer from hell, Iraklis is finally making Robert Cameron look good.
Cameron has been saying for weeks he could get Iraklis back to his best in time to test Christian Cullen in the Interdominions and last night Iraklis finally held up his end of the bargain.
The giant pacer looked something like the horse who has won a Miracle Mile and New Zealand Cup when he led, was then attacked, yet still kicked too well in the second pacing heat.
It was a far cry from Iraklis' pathetic Miracle Mile run last November and some average form in the early races of the Moonee Valley summer carnival.
But now Cameron can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
"He went very well tonight and I expect him to keep improving during the series," he said.
While Iraklis won too well to leave his rivals with any excuses, Bogan Fella lived up to his pre-series hype with a gutsy second.
He was given a fine trip by Mark Purdon but still looks on the way up and will be better suited by the 2700m heat on Tuesday night.
The horse they all came to see carried the hopes of the crowd home but it was close.
Christian Cullen made it 14 wins on end by exploding out of the gate to lead and hold on in the final pacing heat but it was a lot closer than those who backed him down to a money back winning dividend would have felt comfortable with.
But driver Danny Campbell said he wasn't worried and advises the huge Christian Cullen fan club not to be concerned.
"If I had asked him for his best at the top of the straight I think he would have put a couple of lengths on him," Campbell said.
"It was close at the end but I wasn't worried."
Campbell did not get stuck into Christian Cullen but the pair only held on by a half-head from Victorian outsider Country Duke, who flew home along the markers.
The margin may have been a lot closer than fans expected but Christian Cullen left the mobile very quickly to lead from barrier eight, while Country Duke had the luxury of an economical sit.
Campbell also confirmed a slight cut at the bottom of one of Christian Cullen's rear legs was only superficial and would not bother him on Tuesday night.
"At this stage we're on track for the final. That is all you can ask."
The closeness of the finish was enough to see Australian bookmaking giant Centrebet drift Christian Cullen to $2 to win the Grand Final.
Horse Racing: Agua Caliente picks right time to fire
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