By MICHAEL GUERIN
BRISBANE - The two heavyweights of pacing stamina go head to head in the highlight of tonight's final round pacing heats of the Interdominions.
Atitagain and Yulestar are clearly the two best stayers in Australasia and they square off over a distance which will suit them both in tonight's most interesting heat.
Atitagain has drawn the outside of the front line and Yulestar two on the second line in field which contains plenty of horses with early speed.
That should ensure a hot early pace and it would appear whichever one of the two superstayers works to the lead first will be the one to beat.
"I couldn't be happier with my horse but Yulestar is going to be hard to beat because he is a great stayer too.
"It should be a top race," said Atitagain's trainer-driver Dennis Wilson in the understatement of the carnival.
Atitagain will start from the widest draw on the front line, but has a slight advantage in that Yulestar is drawn behind an only moderate beginner.
That could mean Yulestar settles near last so the New Zealand-bred Australian may prove to be the better bet.
Atitagain is the only unbeaten horse in the series.
Defending champion Shakamaker has copped another bad draw in his heat, but after his freakish win over Yulestar on Tuesday night he has to be a red hot favourite.
He will start from the inside of the second line, and big improver Persistency looks his only danger.
The last heat brings together Courage Under Fire and Holmes D G, whose performances this carnival have been of similar quality.
They both have second line draws and luck in the running should decide their clash.
While they will dominate betting, the best investment could be Pocket Me, who had no luck on the second night when trapped wide.
He looks a certain leader from barrier five, and if he can get away with an easy middle section will take a power of running down.
Racing: Heavyweight stayers face off
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