Racing: Draw dilemma for mare's Cup defence

Our Sunny Whiz races clear to win last year's Rowe Cup. Trainer Ken Sefonte warns she may not be as explosive this year. Photo / Kenny Rodger.

One of the anomalies of harness racing could prove a hindrance for defending champion Our Sunny Whiz in the $300,000 Rowe Cup on Friday.

The mare is set to start directly behind her arch-rival One Over Kenny, who has drawn the ace in the group one trot.

And that is exactly where Our Sunny Whiz's trainer Ken Sefonte does not want to be.

While it sounds good in theory to be drawn behind the $1.40 favourite for the event, One Over Kenny has not started from the inside front line draw in a standing start race in her career.

So she can hardly be expected to lead early, meaning Our Sunny Whiz may get forced back beyond midfield, possibly on the markers.

"I really wanted to be off the marker pegs with her," admitted Sefonte.

"I was hoping we would be one-off in midfield and One Over Kenny would be a bit slow and get back on the inside, because that might be our best chance of beating her."

But with the balloted Summer Man on the front line and likely to be scratched, Braig will move to the outside of the front line. Our Sunny Whiz will then move into one on the second line, after Sefonte had originally thought he was guaranteed to start at two on the second line.

The rule is one of the most confusing in harness racing, with horses never moving from the second line to the front line in mobile start races.

But for some reason they do in standing start event, meaning punters playing final field fixed odds markets could end up backing a horse thinking it was starting on the second line only to see it start wide on the front line.

And that could work in reverse if a second line horse was scratched and Summer Man, the first emergency, got a start.

The potential setback does have a flipside for Our Sunny Whiz - if One Over Kenny makes a flyer then she could end up with the trail. But that is a lot for Sefonte to hope for.

And he admits last season's Rowe winner may not be as potent this season.

"She is still very good but she may not be quite as explosive as last season," says the Kumeu horseman.

"But she is fit and ready to go a big race. She just needs a bit of luck."

Judging by the TAB markets, so do the rest of One Over Kenny's rivals, with her $1.40 opening quote remarkably short.

That has pushed established stars like Galleons Sunset ($12), Our Sunny Whiz ($16) and Australian visitor Just Glorious ($16) out to attractive odds.

The bookies are taking no chances with champion pacer Auckland Reactor though, opening him at $1.10 for the $200,000 Messenger Pace, even shorter than his initial quote in last Friday's weaker Taylor Mile field.

The best money in the four fixed odds markets opened on Friday night's group one features was for Ima Gold Digger.

He is paying $1.40 and looks a near certain leader and winner from the ace in the $100,000 Trotting Derby.

ROWE CUP DRAW - BLESSING OR CURSE?

*Our Sunny Whiz faces starting directly behind arch-rival One Over Kenny in Friday night's $300,000 Canam Rowe Cup.

*That could prove to be perfect, but more than likely not.

*Our Sunny Whiz has won only once since last year's Rowe Cup.

*Auckland Reactor is a $1.10 favourite in early betting for the $200,000 Messenger Pace.