By Michael Guerin
Mark Purdon holds the strongest Interdominion trotting hand in history but that was not helping yesterday.
Purdon three of the six most favoured trotters - Merinai, Sundon's Way and Africa - in the series which begins at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
Until yesterday he even had another.
But a morning trackwork session with defending Interdom champ Buster Hanover confirmed that Purdon has lost his battle to keep the great trotter sound for the series.
His Alexandra Park workout win on Saturday had aggravated Buster Hanover's suspensory ligament tear and he had to be withdrawn from the series he was second favourite for.
That leaves Purdon with a still incredible five trotters in the Interdoms but the young trainer knows there is no replacing Buster.
"It is a great shame to lose a horse like him so close to the series," said Purdon.
"I know I still have a good team for the series but I feel bad for his owners and for the punters who had backed him already.
"I mean, the way he went at the workouts on Saturday he looked a good bet."
Buster Hanover injured himself during his stirring win over Knight Pistol in the Australasian Trotters Champs at Moonee Valley in January and Purdon had been fighting to get him ready for the series.
"I was so happy with his condition too but I always knew something like this could happen.
"He has been a great horse to us and there was no way we would press on if there was a chance it would hurt him. Still, you can't replace a horse like him."
Buster Hanover is likely to spend at least four months away from the track before returning to training with the Dominion Handicap and next year's Interdominions in mind.
Purdon clearly opts for Merinai as his leading hope now, ahead of Sundon's Way.
"The best thing about Merinai the way she came through her last win I think she might handle the series format after all.
"I am confident she will make it through the first two heats all right at least before she starts to feel the effects of racing closer together than she is used to."
Buster Hanover's withdrawal saw Merinai tighten to a $3.75 favourite for the March 19 Grand Final.
No easy draws for favourites
The pacing favourites have copped a savaging in the barrier draws for the opening night of the Interdoms.
Everybody's favourite Christian Cullen will have to start from the outside of the front line in the last, and strongest, heat where he meets Brabham, Country Duke Happy Asset and Franco Hat Trick.
While he usually treats wide front line draws with disdain at least he might have to get a sweat up to secure his 14th win on end.
Things could hardly have gone worse for defending champion Sir Vancelot, he has the Our dropped from his name when racing in New Zealand, either.
He has drawn the inside of the second line in the first heat and also has to take on the enigmatic comeback pacer Agua Caliente.
The other favoured pacer to have any joy in the draw was Iraklis.
He has drawn barrier two in the weakest of the 2200m mobile heats where his biggest dangers will be Bogan Fella and Surprise Package.
Iraklis' impressive trials run at Alexandra Park on Saturday has seen him move into clear second favouritism for the series behind Christian Cullen, with the horse who beat him on Saturday, Agua Caliente, now third favourite.
The trotting favourites did not fare much better in the draws, with Merinai drawing barrier eight, although she comes into six with emergencies out, in the first heat.
She clashes with young guns Special Force and Sundon's Way as well as Aussie speedster National Interest.
Aussie hero Knight Pistol meets southern star Cedar Fella and dual Grand Final winner Pride Of Petite in the later heat.
Horse Racing: Purdon loses Buster battle
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