Racing: I Can Doosit well placed to do it

I Can Doosit has been the big winner among the Kiwi raiders of Victoria summer harness racing riches.

The outstanding Canterbury trotter started his Australian campaign with a brave win over Ronerail in the A$30,000 Cochrane Cup at Shepparton last Saturday but that was only the warm-up for his real target.

The early signs for the Australasian Trotting Champs are good, after he drew barrier one in his heat at Ballarat this Saturday night while Australia's champion trotter Sundon's Gift has pulled out of the series.

That leaves I Can Doosit as not only the favourite for his heat but the final at Melton a week later.

His stablemate The Sleepy Tripp has not fared so well in the barrier draw for Saturday night's A$125,000 Ballarat Cup, in which he will start from the outside of the front line.

Fellow New Zealand pacers Power Of Tara (four) and Stunnin Cullen (two the second line) also contest the cup, in which Smoken Up (six) will start favourite.

On Friday night, top-rated Kiwi 3-year-old The Gold Ace faces a second-line draw in the weakest heat of the Victoria Derby, as does Empyrean in his heat.

But Matt Maguire and Major Mark have both drawn well in their heats.

All the Kiwis racing this weekend are heading for richer races at Melton the following Saturday.