By Michael Guerin
Do not let their travel setbacks put you off backing the Victorian raiders when the Interdominions kick off at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.
The Melbourne-based Interdom contenders arrived in Auckland a day late. They were originally scheduled to be here on Monday but they did not make it until Tuesday evening - hardly the ideal start to the hardest fortnight in racing.
But among them are two of the most seasoned travellers in harness racing, so their connections are not expecting any hangovers from the setback.
"Our horse is so used to travelling nothing worries him and I am sure he will be 100 per cent by Friday night," said Kerryn Manning, driver of Knight Pistol.
That Knight Pistol was not fazed by a late plane is hardly surprising. He has undertaken one of the hardest trips possible for a racehorse when he spent two months campaigning in Europe.
And Manning said Alexandra Park will not pose any problems for Knight Pistol either.
"He loved it when he raced here two years ago and I worked him right-handed this morning and he was perfect," Manning said.
Another who did not leave an oat after the trip was former Kiwi pacer Anvil's Star, who spent so much time travelling when trained by Robert Cameron he is already on to his third Interdominions.
Now trained by Andy Gath, he has struggled to regain his best form this term but will have the assistance of his former regular driver, Anthony Butt, for this series.
The dark horse among the Victorian raiders should be another former southerner, Breeny's Fella.
He showed guts to sit parked outside Quantum Lobell and wear him down in the Victoria Cup consolation in January and he has raced strongly since, winning his latest start at Moonee Valley.
He will be driven by one of the young guns of Victorian harness racing in Craig Demmler, who has made quite an impression since taking over the driving of many of the horses formerly trained by his father Ted.
Ted Demmler is one of Australia's greatest reinsman, having driven over 2000 winners, but he had his horseman's licence suspended last year.
He gets that licence back tomorrow and is expected to drive Breeny's Fella on the final night of heats next Friday.
But Craig could make an early push to hold on to that drive tomorrow night when he should get the perfect introduction to Alexandra Park.
Breeny's Fella has drawn one on the second line behind fast beginner Quantum Lobell.
With the latter sure to lead or trail, Breeny's Fella looks certain to get an economical trip three back on the markers from where the passing lane could play right into his hands.
Sam Malone reserving speed
Sam Malone's greatest weapon may be kept in reserve at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.
The Pukekohe speed machine has blazing gate speed and after drawing the weakest of the three pacing heats could have been expected to roar out of the gate looking for a good spot and some valuable early points.
But co-trainer Pam Turner said while Sam Malone is coming back to his best form the gruelling Interdom format may force a change of plans for their star pacer.
"We know he can leave the gate at speed but when he does that he tends to get very keyed up," said Turner, who trains Sam Malone with her husband Lindsay.
"The first night may not be a good time to get him that fired up because we still have a long way to go."
Sam Malone was flying in the spring before a horror southern campaign, which he is only now bouncing back from.
But he made ground well from last behind Christian Cullen in the electric mile at Cambridge last week and looks a potential Grand Finalist if he can secure better draws than the outside barrier he is saddled with tomorrow night.
Horse Racing: Australians downplay travel setbacks
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