Racing: Aussie stars pay up for series start

The casualties were minor as the Interdominions moved to another level yesterday.

Sustaining payments for the Alexandra Park series, which starts on March 4, were taken yesterday and Auckland Trotting Club officials were left beaming as none of the big guns pulled out.

The only big-name Australian pacer not to pay up was 2003 Interdominion champion Baltic Eagle, although he has been injured for two weeks so was always going to miss the series.

All the other major Australian stars paid up, almost guaranteeing the strongest Australian representation in a New Zealand-based Interdominion.

The connections of several mid-grade New Zealand pacers failed to make the $1500 sustaining payment, although few of those were unexpected.

Fake Denario will miss the series as he heads for a brief spell and outstanding mares Lady Toddy, who does not race well right-handed and Armbro Innocence, who is off to the United States, are also out.

They join Australian journeymen Bucks The Odds and Cashel Lugh on the outer.

Those, and a few other minor defections, still leave 52 pacers chasing the 36 spots in the series, although that number will reduce again when the final payment is required in two weeks.

The trotters series looks certain to be restricted to two heats per night after nine pulled out yesterday. None were winning chances, with the best known being Last Link and Zirinovsky.

The withdrawals bring the number of trotters still in the series down to 40, ending ATC thoughts of possibly holding three trotting heats.

"We considered three trotting heats but once the final withdrawals come out in two weeks we won't have enough horses to do that justice," said ATC racing boss Robert Death.

"We couldn't be happier with how things stand at the moment and even we are a little surprised to lose so few horses.

"The Australians are really sticking to their guns and even though we realise we will lose a few more horses before the series starts we are looking at something special here next month."

Even with a few minor withdrawals the series is shaping as one of the strongest ever in New Zealand.

Elsu remained the $3.25 pacing favourite last night and Take A Moment, who has not raced for 13 months, is the $4.50 trotting favourite.

* Elsu was yesterday handed his expected 20m handicap for Saturday night's A$450,000 Hunter Cup.