KEY POINTS:
Under-rated Kiwis Tribute and Winforu all but guaranteed themselves a place in next week's A$50,000 ($56,000) Interdominion Final in a track record heat at Globe Derby last night.
The pair backed up from first-night heat wins in fantastic style as Tribute made the most of a perfect comeback drive from Anthony Butt to down Karloo Mick, with Winforu just a nose half-head away third.
By scooping big points again they basically only have to finish their respective final heats on Saturday night to make the final.
For Tribute it was the second track record in five days after he equalled one at Moonee Valley when winning his first round heat. Last night he paced the 1800m in a sizzling 1:54.8 mile-rate.
Those performances make a mockery of his $35 odds pre-series and trainer Tim Butt says the best may be yet to come.
"I am not saying he is going to get any better but I don't think the series will worry him so he definitely won't get worse," said Butt. "The hard series might affect some of these other horses a bit more."
It was a triumphant comeback from Butt's brother, Anthony, who drove Tribute after being suspended for his winning drive on the same horse in the Tasmanian Pacing Championship last month.
Butt elected to stick to the inside after a frenetic early speed duel before slotting in to the one-one in a race-winning move.
"He actually didn't travel that well from Melbourne to Adelaide so to win in that sort of time shows what a good horse he is," said Butt.
Winforu also thrilled trainer Geoff Small with his third after being, unusually, three back on the outside.
