By Michael Guerin
A TAB juggling act has averted what could have bean a harness racing public relations disaster.
The TAB channel Trackside was in danger of missing Courage Under Fire's record-equalling Victoria Derby bid on Saturday night.
Trackside has been providing extended coverage of the Moonee Valley summer carnival but they got a shock when the Derby was changed from midnight to 12.30am NZ time.
"That is the first time in five years the big race at the summer carnival hasn't been run at midnight," said TAB spokesman Michael Dore yesterday.
The late change caught the TAB by surprise and they had to apply to Sky Television for an extra 30 minutes of air time to televise the race.
The move is hardly a profitable one for the TAB as the race will be a betting disaster, with Courage Under Fire certain to pay money back for a win and a place.
That return was made even more definite when Australia's best 3-year-old Shakamaker pulled out of the $A100,000 classic and Courage Under Fire drew barrier six.
The front line draw effectively ended his rivals' hopes and most of those drawn inside him will now be sent out to look for the early lead, hoping to then hand it over to Courage Under Fire with the intention of running second, earning a nice $A20,000 without a winning penalty.
The resignation among his rivals means Courage Under Fire is rated 20-1 on ($1.05) to equal Noodlum's record for consecutive wins by a New Zealand standardbred.
His barrier draw was not the only good news for the New Zealand raiders at the summer carnival.
Defending champion Buster Hanover received the best possible news as he bids to qualify for the Australasian Trotters Championships on January 30.
He faced elimination from the series after being badly checked last Saturday, meaning he has to overcome a 40m handicap and finish in the first two on Saturday night.
But he drew the weak heat, with Victorian trotter National Interest the only other trotter from the top eight in the series in his heat.
Horse Racing: Late TAB change saves live coverage of Derby
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