Racing: Delft just one fast beginning away from Interdom title

Delft may be one quick beginning away from being the Interdominion champion.

That is the reality facing the enormous Kiwi trotter heading into the A$200,000 final at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Sunday.

Delft made it back-to-back wins in the heats on Saturday, overcoming a 10m handicap to work quickly to the lead before outstaying his rivals.

Now driver Tony Herlihy believes Delft only needs to repeat that performance to win the title he failed to grab as favourite in last season's Grand Final.

"The way he is trotting, if he can lead they will be flat catching him," said Herlihy.

"He is getting more confident all the time, is handling the track well and feels as good as ever."

Delft has led virtually throughout to win both his heats of this series, and with Moonee Valley a very hard track for horses to win on from back in the field he will go very close to starting favourite in the final.

Not that Herlihy thinks the big horse is one-dimentional.

"He doesn't have to lead to win but he is so good in front, and on this track it is very hard to come from the back.

"That was the key to this win, getting to the front quickly, because it puts some of the other drivers off.

"Not too many of them want to sit parked outside him."

The two biggest dangers to Delft look to be locals A Touch Of Flair and Sammy Do Good but Delft appears to have a tactical advantage over both in that he can make a flier from a standing start.

That gives him a better chance of working around the field to wrest the lead and in a capacity field that could be a championship-winning move as it would take luck out of the equation.

Trainer Michelle Wallis has done a superb job keeping Delft sound during a taxing past six weeks and is adamant he can improve further for Sunday's big race.

Delft heads a seven-strong Kiwi contingent in the final. Jasmyns Gift was the only New Zealand rep to not make the cut. Defending champion Play On is the first emergency.

Outside of Delft the next best Kiwi hope may be the great improver of the trotting summer, Prince Sundon.

He was a gutsy second to Sammy Do Good after working hard in the first lap of the weaker heat on Saturday night and, like Delft, would be very hard to catch if he could reach his favoured pacemaking role.

Several of the other New Zealanders appear to be racing for place money, with stablemates Glenbogle and Whatsundermykilt yet to prove they can win at this level.

Dominion Handicap winner Pompallier is a market drifter after fading in Delft's heat on Saturday night. Cambridge trotter Romper Stomper was a big improver in his second Australian start and is emerging as the dark horse for the final.

The other New Zealander in the race is Genius, who looked the likely winner of Sammy Do Good's heat on Saturday night until he almost pulled up when leading into the final bend.

He regathered himself in the home straight to secure a place in the final and if trainer Tim Butt can cure his cornering problems the inexperienced trotter can land some big bets by taking the final.