By MICHAEL GUERIN
Cold Front has received the worst possible draw for the Caduceus Club Classic on Friday night and trainer Jeff Crouth couldn't care less.
The Pukekohe trainer's attitude to the outside front line draw in the $80,000 feature stems from their recent experience in the Sires Stakes at Addington.
On that occasion, Cold Front got what seemed a perfect draw yet ended up being pushed back to last and was never a show.
And the winner, Shania Patron, got what should have been the worst draw before driver Ricky May secured a miracle passage to win.
"In these big races it all comes down to the run you get, not so much the draw," said Crouth.
"While barrier seven doesn't look that good for Friday it could be a very tactical race because it is only a small field."
Cold Front has looked as good as any filly in New Zealand, scoring a stunning debut victory over Tiger Turner, favourite on Friday night.
"I saw Tiger Turner working yesterday and she looked like the trip south hasn't worried her but our filly is the same," said Crouth.
"She worked very well on Monday and she should be getting right to her peak now after three races and a big trip away."
If either Tiger Turner or Cold Front can make a major statement in winning on Friday night, they would become favourite for Filly of the Year honours.
The connections of Shania Patron chose not to pay a late entry for the race, which could cost her a chance of winning the title.
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Classic Wizzer Dee's Australian assault did not start as expected on Monday but it was still a New Zealand victory.
The Cambridge trotter had a hard run from a second line draw in the New South Wales Trotting Derby at Fairfield.
That is the kiss of death on the tight provincial circuit and Classic Wizzer Dee faded at the 400m in a race that contained the best 3-year-old trotters in Australia.
But former Kiwi trotter Tiger Galleon caused a huge upset.
Formerly trained by Derek Jones, Tiger Galleon finished midfield in the New Zealand feature 3-year-old trots dominated by Enthusiast. But on Monday he came from near last to win the Derby at odds of 60-1 for new trainer Clarrie Sweeney.
The 3-year-old trotting action now moves to Victoria.
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Barry Purdon won't be rushing his latest southern juvenile purchase.
A syndicate of Purdon clients have purchased Canterbury pacer Scotlynn Jag, formerly trained by Dean Taylor, and good enough to run third behind Miami Beach in a Sires Stakes heat at Addington.
"I trialled him at Addington and he paced his last 400m in 27 seconds," said Purdon.
"But he is spelling and I will bring him back to be aimed at the Sires Stakes series next season."
Scotlynn Jag is by Jaguar Spur, the sire of Purdon's Juvenile of the Year certainty Matai Mackenzie.
"I like the Jaguar Spurs, I think they have a bit of bottom to them."
Scotlynn Jag is not the only talented southern juvenile on the move, with Scott McLeod, good enough to beat both Hero and Miami Beach on debut, having been sold to a Queensland stable.
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Kumeu horseman Ken Sefonte fared worst in a nasty crash at the Alexandra Park workouts last Saturday.
Sefonte is still in hospital with a broken ankle and collarbone after the crash in a maiden heat.
The accident was caused when a Tony Milina-trained pacer threw a shoe, ducked in and caused a pile-up.
No other driver was seriously injured.
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Anybody not taking drugs at Harold Park last Friday night must have felt a little left out.
New drug detection equipment caused a stir before the first race when visiting driver Glenn Douglas tested positive to a "cannaboid substance", which no matter how technically you put it makes it sound like he has been smoking cannibas.
A surprised and outraged and Douglas was not allowed to drive and promptly left the course.
But then things started to get strange.
Local driver Ricky Thurlow was next to be tested and again the result was positive.
Deputy chief stipe Ron Bottle was suspicious so he took the test and - you guessed it - returned a positive.
So do did club president Tony McGrath and steward Bill Cable.
Thurlow was allowed to drive but Douglas could not be contacted and missed the meeting.
The machine has been returned to its manufacturers.
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Classic Turbo's season is not over after all.
Trainer John MacQuibban feared his outstanding pacer would not be allowed to start in the Winter Cup on Friday night after being scratched from last Friday's Thames Cup.
But Classic Turbo is granted an exceptional circumstances dispensation because his scratching last week was because he was slightly off colour, a fact confirmed by blood tests.
New blood tests indicate Classic Turbo is now right and will start favourite as Agua Caliente is being allowed to miss the Cup.
Racing: No cold reception for filly's wide draw
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