Racing: Forget the record books, this Inter should be ours

Bookmakers have turned their backs on 25 years of history by almost ignoring Australian pacers in the first markets for the Interdominions.

The markets for the series, which begins at Alexandra Park on March 4, have been released with most of the leading Australian contenders way down the order.

That is in stark contrast to the record book, which shows only two New Zealand-trained pacers have won series in the last 25 years.

Almost every season we appear to have the upper hand in quality but in every season since 1979, with the exception of Mark Hanover in 1991 and Yulestar in 2001, the Aussies have come out on top.

This year is the best chance we have had to break the Australian stranglehold with most of our leading pacers fit, in form and racing at home while the challengers are led by the veteran Sokyola and a bunch of pacers largely unproven at the highest level.

That has prompted the TAB to open local hero Elsu at $3.75 favourite, ahead of Sokyola and Just An Excuse at $7, Mister D G at $9 and Young Rufus at $10.

The next best Aussie is Te Kanarama, who has yet to win a major open class race, at $13 while early season sensation Lively Medley, who is unlikely to make the trip from Perth, is rated a $20 hope.

So outside Sokyola and Te Kanarama, you can get $20 or better for any of the Australian hopes.

"We realise we are betting against the history books," said TAB bookmaker Paul Lally after the marathon process of rating the 109 horses nominated for the pacing and trotting series.

"But we had a good look into it and surely this is the year the Kiwis should win it.

"We have a lot of very, very good horses, all of them seem to be in form and they like racing at Alexandra Park."

Lally warned a lot could change in the next three weeks as most of the key contenders, with the major exception of Just An Excuse, will race in group one races in Victoria.

"If a horse like Sokyola wins a race like the Ballarat or Hunter Cup then he will be a big mover and the same goes for Te Kanarama.

"But it is impossible to go past Elsu as the early favourite on his home track."

The dual Auckland Cup winner is likely to race at Alexandra Park next Thursday as a lead-up to the A$450,000 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 12.

It would take a major form reversal from him in both of those races for Elsu not to still be the favourite when the series starts in March.

Already the connections of some well-known nominees have declared they are unlikely to be in Auckland, with Perth's standout pair of Baltic Eagle and The Falcon Strike almost certain to stay home, seeing the TAB quote them at huge odds for horses of their ability.

Sunday's stunning Blenheim winner Likmesiah is also an unlikely starter but outside of that trio and Lively Medley most of the key contenders look set to make the trip to Auckland, ensuring a very strong pacing series.

While rating the pacers was a logistical nightmare for the TAB, setting a market for the trotters was even harder for different reasons.

"We knew all the horses because we have seen them race so often but we struggled to work out where Take A Moment deserved to be in the market because he has been off the scene for so long," said Lally.

For that reason the two-time Grand Final winner has been rated a $5.50 second favourite behind stablemate Lyell Creek at $5.

Victoria's greatly-improved Sammy Do Good is the $7 third favourite in front of defending champion Sumthingaboutmaori, who shares the $8 line with Allegro Agitato.

The big trotting mover in the last month, Delft, is a $12 chance, sharing that price with Rosscoe and Pompallier, with the TAB taking a chance on Australia's most in-form trotter, Gold N Gold.

The former Kiwi has beaten Australasia's best in two of his last three starts but his New Zealand form was poor in November.

"We realise if the series was being held at Moonee Valley he would be one of the favourites but we have to take a stand against some horses and give the punters a chance at serious money and he is one of them," said Lally.

The release of the markets clashed with the first rankings for the series, which raised a few eyebrows although the pacing ranking will end up being largely irrelevant as few horses will miss a start.

The biggest surprises were oustanding mares Armbro Innocence and Alta Serena being rated only 49th and 53rd respectively, but they get ample opportunity to shoot up the rankings in the major mares' races at Addington in the next nine days.

The trotting rankings are far more crucial, with horses certain to miss out unless the Auckland Trotting Club decides to hold three trotting heats, which is unlikely.

Harshest treated is Hide In Your Shell, who was superb at Alexandra Park last season but is ranked only 40th, well below trotters who have been racing in weak Aussie races.

Locals dominate

* New Zealand-trained pacers dominate the opening markets for the Interdominions, which start on March 4.

* Elsu heads the market at $3.75, with only two Australian pacers under $20.

* That goes against the trend which has seen the Australians rule the series for the last 25 years.

* Lyell Creek is the $5 favourite for the trotting series, ahead of fellow champion and stablemate Take A Moment at $5.50.