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A major step towards saving the Interdominions from becoming a victim of equine influenza will be taken at Albion Park in Brisbane tonight.
Just a month ago Australasian harness racing's biggest event looked set to be cancelled this season, with host Harness Racing Victoria worried the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia would make the series unworkable.
Under pressure from officials in New South Wales and Queensland, states which have been struck by EI, Harness Racing Victoria came within a few days of abandoning the series.
Now, with the series confirmed for February and March in Victoria, some of Australia's equine heroes are ready to start their campaigns.
And that includes two-time Interdom pacing champion Blacks A Fake, the highest profile standardbred to have contracted EI.
He will resume racing at Albion Park tonight, up against Grand Circuit star Slipnslide and Cobbity Classic. Dual Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny is back next week.
The Albion Park meeting will be the first meaningful harness meeting in Queensland since the EI outbreak and the presence of the big name pacers confirms HRV were right to go ahead with the series.
After three open class races in Queensland in the next month, their leading pacers will enter two weeks in quarantine in Queensland where they can remain in full training before heading to Victoria for a further two weeks in quarantine at the Geelong harness racing track west of Melbourne.
Once there they can again remain in training and even hold workouts among themselves.
While the crossing of borders into Victoria has yet to be confirmed, the noises from there this week are suggesting it is now almost certain to be allowed.
The same quarantine procedures would also then be provided for New South Wales leading pacers, headed by Divisive.
So unless there is another influenza outbreak or unforeseen problem, any Australian horse whose connections want it to contest the Interdoms should be able to do so.
And with Victoria the centre of Australian harness racing from New Year until the Inter finals on March 1, the visitors will get plenty of lead-up racing - including the A$400,000 Hunter Cup on February 3.
But will those stars who were laid low by equine influenza be as good upon their return?
The best guide is Blacks A Fake, who was one of the first standardbreds in Queensland to contract the EI virus.
His trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen is thrilled with the champion's condition and he paced a 1:56 mile when trialling against Slipnslide this week. Considering he is neither a noted miler or trials specialist, he looks on track for another big season.
And the Interdominions look set to not be a victim of EI.
