KEY POINTS:
The team behind pacing savage Safari admit they have bigger problems than a second-line barrier draw heading into Saturday's Interdominion Final.
Safari, a sensational track-record winner of his semifinal of the series on Saturday night, has drifted in betting for the final after drawing the outside of the second line.
But co-trainer Clayton Tonkin says that doesn't concern him as much as Safari, and his rivals, having to spend the final 36 hours before the race at a secure detention centre in Geelong.
The measures, to ensure no illegal substances are administered to any runner, were also used before the Hunter Cup earlier this month and stroppy stallion Safari struggled to deal with them.
He didn't eat well and raced below his best, even though he was a gutsy fourth in the Cup.
"That is the big problem we face this week," Tonkin said last night.
"We have to worry about what affect being stuck in the detention centre will have on him.
"If he doesn't eat and settle in there then maybe he can't win anyway.
"If he comes through the whole experience better then we can start to worry about the draw."
Safari was a $2.50 second favourite to win the final before the barrier draw but is out to $4.50 with the New Zealand TAB and will almost certainly start longer on the tote.
Blacks A Fake, looking for his third Interdominion victory, is as short at $1.80 after drawing barrier six.
One Over Kenny remains the $1.50 favourite for the Trotting Final.
Those races are just two of a huge number of fixed-odds feature harness races available for punters this week.
Markets are already open on the Woodlands Derby and free-for-all at Alexandra Park on Friday night, which starts Auckland Cup week.
Georgetown has been backed in from $4.50 to $3.50 in the Derby, pushing Fiery Falcon out to $3.20.
Baileys Dream heads the betting in a stunning line-up for the $50,000 Nufarm free-for-all, the final lead-up to the Auckland Cup on Friday week. TAB bookmakers will be on track at Alexandra Park and at all Premier meetings over Cup week.
* Interdominion market: $1.80 Blacks A Fake; $4.50 Safari; $5 Divisive; $9 Smoken Up; $13 Report For Duty; $31 Penny Veejay; $41 Robin Hood, Karlsruhe, Diamonds N Furs; $101 Amorts, Sequoiahs Spirit, Perfect Gold Lombo.
