KEY POINTS:
After months of speculation and slagging about this season's Interdominions the money finally won out.
When final acceptances for the transtasman harness racing carnival closed yesterday most of the best pacers in Australasia were there, along with a number of the leading trotters.
That was a huge relief to South Australian harness racing officials who just a month ago must have been privately dreading potentially the weakest series ever held.
Because of financial problems in South Australia the series will start at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Friday week before all 54 horses involved endure a float trip to Adelaide for the second round of heats five days later.
That will be followed by the final round of heats three days after that and the finals on January 13.
The controversial split-state series outraged many trainers when it was first announced and even just last week the trainers of Australasia's two best pacers, Blacks A Fake and Be Good Johnny, would not commit to starting.
But the bottom line is the Interdominion pacing final is still worth A$500,000 ($565,000), an amount that doesn't exactly drop out of the sky every day of the week.
So, whether they like it or not, the biggest names in pacing are heading to Adelaide, via Melbourne.
The most significant withdrawal when acceptances closed yesterday were stablemates Slipnslide and Cobbity Classic, but that was because of the former's poor health and the latter's last placing in the Victoria Cup.
Sting Lika Bee pulled out because his trainer was reluctant to travel with him while veteran Sokyola was also withdrawn, signalling the end of his wonderful career.
Mainland Banner was never a chance to go, and isn't racing well enough regardless, while the most significant Kiwi absentee is Sly Flyin, who is instead being aimed at the Hunter Cup in February.
But considering the bizarre conditions and massive drop in stakes from last season's series, the pacing ranks have held up well.
Blacks A Fake will be back to defend the title he won in Hobart last season, even though his trainer Natalie Rasmussen has only confirmed him as a starter in the first round of heats.
She said she would see how he performed that night and then assess the weather before deciding to continue with the arduous series - but those plans may be more definite after South Australian stewards heard her comments.
SA chief steward Gerard Lalor explained to the Herald yesterday that if Blacks A Fake started in the first round of heats and was the pulled out of the series he could be stood down from racing for eight weeks.
That sort of layoff would force him to miss the Ballarat and Hunter Cups, so punters can safely assume Blacks A Fake is in this series for the long haul.
Be Good Johnny's trainer John McCarthy was reluctant to tackle the series but said it was a matter of age for the dual Miracle Mile winner.
"It is not ideal but, then again, who knows where we might be with him in a year or even six months," said McCarthy.
New Zealand has been left with four pacing representatives and probably less chance of winning the series than at any time in the last decade.
Foreal heads the Kiwi contingent and is a likely finalist, while Winforu and Tribute will appreciate the series for vastly different reasons.
Presido, who won at Globe Derby two weeks ago, is the other New Zealand pacer in the series.
Our chances of success are, as usual, far greater in the trotting series, with stablemates Glenbogle and Whatsundermykilt rated second and third favourites respectively.
They both face a 10m handicap around the tight Globe Derby track but that is somewhat negated by the front markers in the series being mainly outsiders, especially with Australia's up-and-coming star Acacia Ridge pulling out with a blood complaint.
That leaves A Touch Of Flair as the $2.60 series favourite even though he faces a tricky 20m handicap.
He is still much better off than defending champion Delft, who is at ludicrously short odds at $5.50 facing a 30m handicap and a form slump.
Romper Stomper, Summit Invasion and What EverYou Like are the other three New Zealand representatives in the trotting series but all will need dramatic form improvements to have any hope.
* Final acceptors for the Interdominions, with first round fields to be released on Friday, are. -
TROTTERS:
Delft (NZ), Whatsundermykilt (NZ), Glenbogle (NZ), A Touch Of Flair (Vic), Clares Brother (Vic), Flying Hardwick (Vic), Tamra Dawn (Vic), Romper Stomper (NZ), Code Of Honour (Vic), Uncle Petrika (Vic), Viva La Fever (Vic), Motu Miss Anna (Vic), Apache Blue Jean (SA), All Action Son (Vic), Tough Tussle (NSW), Jauriol (Vic), Countessa Hest (Vic), Summit Invasion (NZ), Bonito (Vic), Kate Au Penny (Qld), What Ever You Like (NZ), Blown Budget (Qld), Backa Beyond (Vic), Pats Victory (SA)
PACERS:
Blacks A Fake (Qld), Be Good Johnny (Qld), Flashing Red (Qld), Sweet Fame (NSW), Tribute (NZ), Karloo Mick (NSW), Robin Hood (Vic), Reba Rajah (Vic), The Warp Drive (Vic), Toe Taper (Vic), Smooth Crusa (NSW), Foreal (NZ), Make Me Smile (NSW), B H Cullen (Vic), Winforu (NZ), Sir Galvinator (Qld), Scruffy Murphy (Vic), Franco Heir (Vic), Conte De Cristo (SA), Mustang Fighter (WA), Poppys Boy (Vic), Place Of Glory (NSW), Sergeant Sands (WA), Dee Dees Dream (Vic), Flaming Roadstar (Vic), Presido (NZ), Braeside Seel Star (Vic), Tactical Dreamer (Vic), Cashel Lugh (NSW), Our Brahman Boy (NSW).
