By MICHAEL GUERIN
MELBOURNE - The shock inclusion of Waikato pacer Homin Hosed in the field for Saturday's $A400,000 Hunter Cup has caused a storm in Australian harness racing.
Last season's New Zealand Cup winner was not expected to make the field for Australia's richest harness race after disappointing form during his three-start Australian campaign.
The Waikato pacer was left out of the Victoria Cup two weeks ago but has been given a start in the Hunter Cup over last-start Moonee Valley winners Cigar and Cee New York.
Cee New York's trainer-driver Michael Langdon was stunned by the decision.
"The officialdom over here sucks," said Langdon, the former New Zealand junior driving champion who has spent the past two years in Canada.
"I knew my horse was a chance to miss the race but I didn't think Homin Hosed was a threat to him getting a start.
"In fact, I had completely scrubbed him off the list of dangers."
Cee New York was a stunning winner of the Victoria Cup consolation in a time faster than that for the Victoria Cup itself.
The decision has a touch of irony for Langdon as Homin Hosed will be driven by his life-long friend Todd Mitchell.
Even Homin Hosed's owner-trainer Bryan Macey was surprised by his star getting a start after three unplaced runs since his comeback from a year-long injury break.
"I had some doubts he would make the field and to be honest I wouldn't have been too worried if he had missed out," admitted Macey.
HRV officials justified their decision by saying Cee New York had run only third in a weak field three starts ago while Homin Hosed was a three-time group one winner who has been racing in better fields.
Homin Hosed will start off the 10m mark in the Hunter Cup, with Yulestar, Holmes D G and Shakamaker sharing the 20m backmark.
But when betting opened on the race yesterday it was harness racing's new hype horse Black Cam who was favourite.
The Victorian TAB bookies had Black Cam, who will start off the front, at $4.50, with Shakamaker at $5.5, Atitagain at $6.5 and Yulestar rated a $7 chance.
The big improver of the last month Ouch was at $9 while even after returning to form with a free-for-all win last Saturday Holmes D G was at $17 last night.
And the bookies made their views on the Cee New York-Homin Hosed decision very clear.
Cee New York was at $16 last night even though he is balloted out of the race while Homin Hosed is rank outsider at $35.
Yulestar's trainer Lorraine Nolan was delighted with the New Zealand Cup winner's handicap.
"I expected him to get 30m and have to give Holmes D G at least 10m start so I am very happy with that," said Nolan.
Being on the same mark as Holmes D G is almost a huge relief for Yulestar, who had to give his arch-rival a 15m start in the Auckland Cup in December.
He beat him home that night and beat him home again in the Victoria Cup yet starts off the same mark on Saturday.
"This means he can win the race, where as before we came over here we almost thought he might be handicapped out," said Nolan.
Racing: Aussies in uproar over Hunter Cup inclusion
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