By Michael Guerin
New Zealand's assault on the Moonee Valley summer carnival looks sure to get the perfect start.
Buster Hanover and Special Force got ideal draws for the $50,000 Dullard Cup, starting from barriers four and five respectively.
That gives them a big advantage over Aussies Knight Pistol (gate seven) and Noopy Kiosk, who starts from the outside of the front line.
The draws should mean Special Force can cross his opponents at the start and reach the front.
The news was not so good for speedy southern trotter Sundowner Bay, who drew barrier two on the second line in the 2380m mobile.
But returning open class star Iraklis could not have fared better in the Poplar Alm Free-For-All, a race he won two years ago.
The giant Canterbury pacer will start from barrier three in the 1940m mobile, his first race since his disastrous Miracle Mile failure.
Iraklis will be up against moderate opposition in the $A15,000 sprint and is expected to start around the $1.25 for a win mark.
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