Racing: Consolation prize for Martina H

The best tip for Alexandra Park tonight is the fact Derek Balle doesn't want to be there.

Not that he isn't looking forward to the meeting, especially the feature trot in which he has three of the favourites.

It is just that Balle would much rather be waiting until tomorrow night at Ballarat to be starting stable star Martina H.

The outstanding trotting mare is the biggest Kiwi name not to be in Victoria for the Interdominions which start tomorrow night and Balle is starting to regret the decision to withdraw the mare last week.

"About the same time we withdrew her she started to work as good as she ever has and I'd love to have her there for the series," admits Balle.

"I think she would at least win a heat and be a chance in the final but there is not much point worrying about that now."

If Balle's assessment is right - and he knows Martina H better than anybody - then she has to be the horse to beat in tonight's big trot.

The Rowe Cup winner faces a 30m handicap but will still be a warm favourite over stablemates Bangers And Mash and What Ever You Like.

Martina H has run placings behind some of trotting's biggest names this summer and those stars across the Tasman the next month should be hers to dominate.

That could hardly come at a better time too as she has few racetrack opportunities left.

"She is in foal and will probably be retired in six weeks, two months at the outside," said Balle. "She is going to make a great broodmare but we are looking forward to trying to get at least another win with her before she retires."

Aiding in that quest tonight will be the small field, with Martina H facing just 11 rivals, which should help her overcome her 30m handicap.

She shares that mark with Rosscoe but while he may have Martina H's speed he has fallen back into his old tricks this campaign and would need a major form reversal to down the mare.

Her stablemates look her greatest dangers but both have their concerns: Bangers And Mash likes galloping as much as trotting while What Ever You Like is better left-handed.

Martina H will not be the only trotting star on the track tonight though, with one of the most exciting youngsters in New Zealand set to continue on her winning way in race two.

Our Sunny Whiz has looked an open class mare in the making with her two wins this season and will be favoured to make it three even though the field is one of the strongest in this grade at Alex Park in a long time, featuring Bellam's Last Play, Ken and Copper Belle.