Racing: Passing poser for firing Mister D G

Only one factor is stopping Mister D G being the bet of the weekend in tonight's Ballarat Cup - the track's lack of a passing lane.

The Canterbury pacer heads a team of four Kiwis in the A$105,000 feature, one of the major lead-ups to the Interdominions, which start at Alexandra Park on March 4.

He is joined by Young Rufus, Harnetts Creek and Howard Bromac as well as the two Australian pacers most favoured in the early Interdom markets, Sokyola and Te Kanarama.

But while tonight's race is one of the strongest of the season, everything points to Mister D G coming out on top. Apart from that absent passing lane.

Mister D G has drawn barrier one and should have enough gate speed to settle in the trail behind certain early leader Sokyola.

With Sokyola's trainer-driver Lance Justice never one to hand up, Mister D G looks set to get the perfect trail and then his chance to divebomb the leader up the long Ballarat straight.

But that is where things could get tricky for catch driver John Caldow, who is sitting in for the suspended Anthony Butt.

Because Ballarat is one of the few serious tracks in Australasia that does not have a passing lane, there is the possibility Mister D G may not get a clear run in the home straight.

While most horses could be expected to drift out under pressure at the end of a group one staying race, Sokyola tends to race right up against the markers, even in a tight finish, so he may not provide Mister D G with a gap on his inner.

With stayers like Young Rufus and Harnetts Creek in the race there is the remote chance Mister D G may not get his crack at the leaders at all.

That slight concern aside the race looks his for the taking, a fact even recognised by Australian bookies who have shortened him into favouritism.

Mister D G is hitting form at the right time, as evidenced by his fourth in the Geelong Cup last Saturday after he galloped from the standing start and had to sit three wide for the last lap for the run of the race.

Tonight's race is a crucial one for Sokyola, who a month ago was being hailed a champion after winning the Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup, only to be slagged in some sectors of the Australian media after dropping out in the South Australia Cup last start.

He is still the best pacer in Australia and can be forgiven his one poor performance last start. But there are also concerns over recent filling in a leg which suggests even the great pacing warrior is feeling the effects of so many battles.

As a certain leader tonight he is still the horse they all have to beat.

Young Rufus did enough winning the South Australia Cup to suggest he is closing in on his best form, but he will need to be as tonight's field is much stronger while Harnetts Creek and Howard Bromac face huge tasks from the second line draws.

Regardless of who wins the cup tonight's meeting is certain to be a good one for New Zealand pacers, with our three-year-olds set to dominate the heats of the Victoria Derby.

Baileys Dream has drawn the weakest heat and will be too good barring a major form reversal.

Mister D G's stablemate Tribute should win the second heat while Badlands Bute faces a tricky second line draw but is still the favourite for the final, strongest heat.