By Michael Guerin
The Auckland Trotting Club is confident of surviving the rugby-racing battle on Friday.
Friday and Saturday night rugby - union and league - has become the single biggest threat to winter harness racing in the recent years.
Addington official bowed to the pressure by starting their meeting early last Friday to avid clashing with the first All Black match of the season.
And Harness Racing New Zealand and the TAB has recognised the problem with a huge swing away from Saturday night harness racing to Thursday meetings next season.
The Auckland Trotting Club has a more immediate problem, with its final feature race of the season going head to head with the first All Black test of the year on Friday.
But ATC officials say Friday night's meeting will be a success.
"Even though it is hard coming up against the rugby we still think we will have a successful night," said ATC racing boss Robert Death.
"Winter can be a good time of year for us because of our restaurants and function rooms, which are very popular for mid-winter Christmas parties.
"On Friday we not only have them but the support of the Caduceus Club and that should provide us with a solid crowd."
The ATC is obviously aware of the interest in the rugby test and will devote one of its on-course television channels to the game.
That could be a sign of things to come, with live big-screen sports coverage sure to be a prime consideration in the redevelopment of the Alexandra Park public facilities.
ATC officials will also be eagerly scanning the rugby and league programmes for next season, attempting to avoid direct clashes with major games when possible.
While the $80,000 Caduceus Club Classic will be the highlight of Friday night's meeting, the unexpected presence of glamour horse Agua Caliente is a bonus.
Running a race with just six horses can be financially risky but Death said the club was keen to cater for horses of Agua Caliente's class.
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Courage Under Fire left no doubts about his fitness for next Tuesday's record-breaking attempt at the Gold Coast with a blistering workout around Harold Park yester- day.
The unbeaten pacer will be aiming for outright ownership of the New Zealand record for consecutive wins, which he presently shares with Desert Gold and Gloaming, in his 20 start next Tuesday.
The race is also likely to double as an assault on the Australian 3-year-old race mile record.
Courage Under Fire usually needs one serious workout before racing and he got that yesterday.
He buzzed around Harold Park in 3:7.5 for 2400m, his last mile in 2:2.7, 800 in 56.4 and final 400 in 27.8 seconds.
That is about as fast as any 3-year-old has gone on the small Sydney track and pleased trainer Bruce Negus.
"He is spot on and will head us to Brisbane later this week," said Negus.
After next Tuesday's race Courage Under Fire will head to Queensland Derby on July 3 and the Australian Derby at Moonee Valley on July 10.
Horse Racing: Club not worried over Friday threat
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