Racing: Fairer sex rules harness racing

Females ruled the harness-racing world last night when hot favourite Blacks A Fake won the richest Interdominion pacing final in history.

The Queensland pacer capped a remarkable season by leading almost throughout to beat Karloo Mick and Slipnslide in the A$1.5 million ($1.74 million) classic in Hobart, with Foreal a luckless fifth the best of the Kiwis.

Blacks A Fake was driven by Natalie Rasmussen in what was the first time a female driver has won the Interdominion pacing final and capped an incredible past five years for women in the industry.

Just a decade ago only a handful of women were competing at the highest levels of harness racing. But now names such as Kerryn Manning, Jodi Quinlan, Kate Thompson and Kiwi trainers Michelle Wallis and Lorraine Nolan are etched on major trophies throughout Australasia.

But last night was the proudest moment for harness racing's women as Blacks A Fake, trained and driven by 29-year-old Rasmussen, won.

The driver handled the pre-race pressure superbly and did not get involved in an early speed duel, being content to let Lookslikelightning storm to the front before wresting the lead off him after just 500m. From there Blacks A Fake's rivals were in trouble and when he unleashed a last 800m in 56.7s, the final 400m in 27.8s, he wasn't going to be caught.

Not only is the 5-year-old son of Fake Left the first pacer driven by a woman to win the great race, he is also the first Queensland-bred pacer to grab the title.

After the race Rasmussen said confidence levels had started at rock bottom but were skyhigh last night.

"When we nominated him for the series we didn't even think he would make the final," she said."But he has just kept on getting better and by the time this week came around I was very confident he was the best horse here."

The win was Blacks A Fake's 21st from just 27 starts, with the very real possibility he will return an even better horse next season.

While the winner gave them few excuses, runner-up Karloo Mick produced the run of the race, fighting his way into second after being three wide without cover for the last 1400m.

Slipnslide was also impressive, making enormous ground in the last 400m, showing he is one of the true athletes of open-class pacing.

Of the New Zealanders, Foreal had no luck in fifth, making ground late, while Winforu was beautifully driven by David Butcher but only battled in the home straight.

London Legend was also unlucky, being shuffled back to last on the home turn before making ground late.

Earlier in the night Sting Lika Bee made up for a luckless series with a win in the Interdominion Consolation.

The Victorian pacer would have been in the final but for bad draws in the heats. Driver David Murphy was able to secure the one-one with the gelding soon after the start and from there the race was his to win. He exploded clear at the top of the straight and held out Hexus and Alta Serena.

Once again, though, the early Kiwi favourite for the series, Howard Bromac, had no luck and finished midfield, with Napoleon close up and Bobs Blue Boy dropping out after racing wide throughout.

The night's other features went to NSW pacers, with Threepence taking the Tasmania Oaks and Divisive just holding on to win the Tasmania Derby.