Racing: Kiwis handed ideal draws to launch Interdom assault

Lennytheshark. Photo / Stuart McCormick

The good news has arrived just in time for New Zealand's Inter Dominion hopes in West Australia.

Chances of a Kiwi victory in the series, which culminates in a A$1.1 million final in Perth next Friday, has been dulled by poor draws and one-paced runs so far in the series.

That continued during the second round of heats at Bunbury on Tuesday night when Smolda was a solid but hardly spectacular third after sitting parked while Franco Nelson could manage only fifth after sitting in the one-one in the same race.

Smolda is certain to make the final but Franco Nelson will need a top three finish in the final round of heats, but more importantly the Kiwi pair need to step up a gear to loom as serious players in the final.

And they have been handed the ideal draws from which to launch that assault in the final round of A$75,000 heats tomorrow night.

After two hard runs from poor draws Smolda will start from barrier three in the last heat, where the step up to 2536m will also suit.

He will be favoured to run to the front and win.

But even if he can't he will be able to sit parked and control the race and with key rivals Bling It On and Beaudiene Boaz drawn wide, Smolda gets the perfect chance to go into the final a winner.

Franco Nelson was disappointing by his early spring form standards on Tuesday but has also drawn barrier three tomorrow night in a race that should be dominated by Lennytheshark (barrier one) and Bettors Fire (two).

So Franco Nelson should sit just off the speed and driver Dexter Dunn gets the perfect chance to sneak him into a placing and therefore the final.

Defending champion Lennytheshark was disappointing when he finished only fourth, his first unplaced run in 18 months, on Tuesday but gets the perfect chance to bounce back from the ace.

Tuesday's defeat has cost him his place at the head of the markets, with Hectorjayjay now the $2.40 favourite for the final with the New Zealand TAB.

He was supersonic pacing his last 1200m in under 1:23 to win untouched on Tuesday and from another good barrier tomorrow night will be expected to lead and win again.

While victories have been hard to come by for the small New Zealand team at the carnival that should change away from the Interdom heats tomorrow night, with Smolda's four-year-old stablemates Piccadilly Princess and Mr Mojito both favoured to win their feature races.

Both have drawn barrier two and they give Purdon a rare, realistic chance at training a Gloucester Park treble, a feat that may not have ever been accomplished by a New Zealand trainer before.

The all-important barrier draw for the Inter Dominion final will be conducted on Sunday.