Racing: Hoping for clean start

It is not a good sign when Colin Courtney starts crossing his fingers.

But that is how the Alexandra Park starter is approaching tonight's Trillian Trust Auckland Cup.

The man responsible for getting the field away evenly admits he has his concerns heading into the event.

Courtney knows better than most how standing starts have become the biggest thorn in the side of harness racing punters, especially as more of our best horses are taught to race after mobile starts and thrown into standing start races only as they near cup class.

The problem seems worst in the major cups, when hype, large crowds, big fields and cagey drivers mean some horses can be standing for three minutes before the tapes are released.

Courtney says there is little he can do to remedy the farcical situation.

"I'd love to have them all come in, stand for a few seconds and then go," he said. "But it doesn't work like that and I am a bit worried about this week."

Courtney's other major concern is the 10m gap between the front line and the second barrier strand for backmarker Mainland Banner.

Once the front line of nine horses come into line the drivers of the four horses on the second line, three of which are unruly, have only a tiny space in which to move.

"If they had 20m that would be a huge help but the 10m gap makes it tough for the drivers. So I am hoping for the best. Fingers crossed."

So are punters.