Racing: Grand old man pounding way back to track

Brent Lilley knows Special Force is ready for the Interdominions because he can finally catch him.

The 11-year-old trotting great is set to make the most under-the-radar comeback of the decade after his nomination for the series which begins at Alexandra Park on March 4.

Special Force hasn't raced since his fifth behind Take A Moment in the Rowe Cup in May 2003.

And until Thursday not too many people knew he was even in training.

He hasn't been near a racetrack for over a year, slowly pounding his way back to fitness under the caring eye of Canterbury beach trainer Lilley.

Lilley has already worked one comeback miracle when he managed to get open class pacer Cool Hand Luke back to the track after his retirement two years ago.

But even he was sceptical when owner Bernie Lim asked him to work his magic on Special Force, who won the 1999 trotting final at Alexandra Park.
"I knew what a great job his former trainers, Dave and Clare McGowan, had done keeping him in one piece," said Lilley.

"The only reason I said yes was because Bernie supported me so much when I first started training."

Before Lilley could start training Special Force he had to catch him.

"When he first got here he had been out of training for a while and was a real trick.

"I had to chase him around the paddock. But after a while he settled into things and now I know he is enjoying it because he is always the first to rush up to the paddock gate to be taken in.

"If I work another horse before him he gets pretty stroppy."

Special Force, who also raced in Scandinavia as well as winning feature races in Australia, has responded so well to the beach he will trial in a fortnight.

"His work down the beach has been great, he really feels like a top class horse.

"The next two weeks will indicate to us whether he is going to hold together but at this stage his legs seem perfect so I would say he is a good chance to make it to the Inters."

Special Force may race in a free-for-all at Addington on February 18 before returning north to the track he called home for most of his career.

His is just one of the amazing comebacks the series has inspired.

He could be joined at Alexandra Park by Young Rufus, who almost died two years ago; Take A Moment, who hasn't raced for a year and needed miracle surgery; Holmes D G, who was retired last May and Facta Non Verba, who has been unsighted for a year.

Not to forget of course Lyell Creek, who two years ago was racing in the snow in Canada and was all but retired last year.

The return of so many veterans with stunning records but no recent racing will place extra pressure on the handicappers as they try to rank them.

In the trotting series in particular the rankings will be crucial as the 48 nominations get trimmed down to 26 starters, with the likelihood that only two trotting heats will be held each night.

How, for example, do you rank Special Force and his numerous group one wins against trotters like Play On and Hide In Your Shell, who have never won a big race but whose form is much more current?

Or does Facta Non Verba deserve a place in the pacing series more than younger, lesser-performed rivals like Ohoka Atom or London Legend?

Throw in a handful of Australian pacers who have rarely raced out of their own weak states and the handicappers face a nightmare weekend.

And nothing surer than some criticism come Tuesday when the ranking are released.

* Nominations for the Interdominion harness series are:-

PACERS

New Zealand: Alta Serena, Armbro Innocence, Attorney General, Bella's Boy, Blue Chip Rock, Bobs Blue Boy, Coburg, Eagles Together, Elsu, Facta Non Verba, Fake Denario, Flying Sands, Harnetts Creek, Holmes D G, Howard Bromac, Hummer, Jagged Account, Just An Excuse, Lady Toddy, Lee Robyn, Likmesiah, Linford Christie, London Legend, Maheer Lord, Mister D G, Ohoka Atom, Oscar Wild, Oyster Bay, Scorching, Sly Flyin, The Power Of Wealth, Winforu, Young Rufus.

Australia: Atlanta Georgia, Baltic Eagle, Braeside Seel Star, Buck The Odds, Camlach, Cashel Lugh, Country Ways, Dominator Stride, Falcon Strike, Flashing Red, Franco Heir, Glen Atom, Hexus, Lively Medley, Mendacity, Mont Denver Gold, Mustang Fighter, Ohoka Ace, Patches, Redcourt, Rollon Bigred, Sand Pebbles, Seelster Score, Selby Bromac, Smooth Satin, Sokyola, Te Kanarama.

TROTTERS

New Zealand: Alexikov, Allegro Agitato, Castleton's Mission, Castletons Sun, Cool Kahli, Cracker Nova, Delft, Glenbogle, Gold, Hide In Your Shell, Iwi Alex, Landora's Image, Lanson, Last Link, Lyell Creek, Major Decision, Marie Wishes, Martina H, Paris Metro, Perfect Hold, Play On, Pompallier, Prince Sundon, Romper Stomper, Rosscoe, Sojourner, Special Force, Spin The Yarn, Stephen Craig, Sundaefortee, Sunease, Sunny Gem, Take A Moment, Toomuch To Do, What Ever You Like, Whatsundermykilt, Young Pointer, Yummy Lace, Zirinovsky.

Australia: Bristle, Gold N Gold, Infuse, Kimbo, Lost In The Park, Sammy Do Good, Sophocles, Stirling Kiwi, Sumthingaboutmaori, Uncle Petrika.