Racing: Danger time for Kiwis in 'Heat of Death'

Foreal is one of the New Zealand contingent who need a big performance. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Pacing's "Heat of Death" could be about to provide an Interdominion lifeline for Winforu.

The South Auckland pacer will contest an extraordinary heat of the series at Launceston tonight in which three first-night heat winners and a handful of Grand Final winning chances clash.

While tonight's other two heats contain just one or two winning chances, the opening heat brings together big names Slipnslide, Howard Bromac, Blacks A Fake, Flashing Red, Foreal, Bobs Blue Boy and Sting Lika Bee.

That may sound ominous for Winforu, who needs a top four finish to stay on track for Sunday week's A$1.5 million ($1.7 million) Grand Final.

But trainer Geoff Small believes the barrier draws have turned the tough heat into an almost ideal race for Winforu, who started the series with a slashing third.

The speedster will start from barrier two and with his gate speed is almost certain to be the first horse to the lead.

And from there driver David Butcher has all the options, the most likely being to trail Slipnslide and hope for a break at the top of the straight.

In a heat where stayers like Howard Bromac, Bobs Blue Boy, Dinki Di and Sting Lika Bee all need to make mid-race moves in search of valuable points, sitting in the trail doing no work is the ideal scenario.

"It will be David's decision but that looks a good plan to me," said Small.

"If we could trail a really good horse like Slipnslide then he will be the one copping the pressure and we could get the last shot at them.

"Either way, from there he should be good enough to get big points and that is what the heats are all about."

With so much mid-race pressure possible in such a strong heat Winforu might even have a chance of slingshotting past Slipnslide if he gets worked over.

The only concern for Butcher and Small would be if Luke McCarthy, who drives Slipnslide, decided to take a trail himself.

But after his stunning first night win his confidence will be high and he is more likely to try for an all-the-way win, especially as he has a great sprint record.

Small is happy with Winforu's progress over the summer and he has emerged as a serious contender in any open class race, especially as Australian racing suits him.

While he looks perfectly placed in tonight's opening heat the race is going to be an awkward one for Kirk Larsen on Howard Bromac.

The Auckland Cup winner was unlucky but still slightly disappointing on the opening night and faces a horror draw on the outside of the gate.

If he goes forward he faces getting pushed back if there are too many challengers and if he goes back he will need enormous luck to get into the first three.

Failure to do that will effectively end his chances of making the final.

The same applies to Bobs Blue Boy, who was also luckless on night one.

The second heat looks a good one for Alta Serena, who was a fine second on Sunday.

She has drawn the second line but is up against few of the top stars of the series and it will surprise to see her not finish in the first three.

The last heat looks a two-horse race between Sweet Fame and Be Good Johnny.