BRISBANE - The Hannibal Lector of harness racing is the new Interdominion favourite.
Defending champion Shakamaker earned that honour with a commanding victory in his final pacing heat on Saturday night.
The brilliant sit-sprinter added another string to his bow by sitting three wide without cover for the last 1200m before powering clear at the top of the straight.
It was powerful stuff but Interdominion favouritism was obviously not enough of a reward for Shakamaker.
He wanted something he could really get his teeth into.
Like the Clerk of the Course.
In a scary post-race incident the Victorian stallion savaged Clerk of the Course Dexter McLean in front of the huge crowd.
McLean had to go to hospital where two leg wounds were stitched.
Shakamaker's trainer-driver John Justice was upset by the incident.
"I feel terrible for the guy but I can't blame Shaka," said Justice.
"He is a stallion and he was acting on his natural instinct."
Justice says Shakamaker actually mistook McLean's leg for part of the grey horse he was riding as he escorted the winning combination back to the winner's circle after the race.
"I saw Shaka eyeing up that horse on Tuesday after his heat win. I mean, Shaka hates all other horses but he really hates grey horses.
"So when they got close to us on Saturday night Shaka started to get angry and he lunged at the other horse.
"The unfortunate part is the Clerk of the Course was wearing pants the same colour as his horse's coat.
"Shaka thought he was attacking the horse and once he got his teeth in he wouldn't let go."
The unusual post-race snack left nobody in any doubt as to Shakamaker's killer instinct and bookies reacted to the win by making him a $3.75 favourite for Saturday's $A500,000 Grand Final.
"He is right where I want him to be," was Justice's summary.
Atitagain completed a clean sweep of the heats with an easy win in his heat after finding the lead early and dictating a slow pace.
That meant he was able to pace his last 800m in 55.4 seconds. He is a $4.25 second favourite.
Courage Under Fire received the greatest ovation of the night when he made the most of a perfect drag into the race to win the final heat.
As Courage Under Fire is an adopted Queenslander he should ensure a crowd of close to 18,000 on Saturday.
It was an unspectacular night for the Kiwi pacing contingent, with Yulestar looking tired when battling into fourth behind Atitagain.
"He has had a very hard week and didn't want to be out there," said driver Tony Shaw.
"But with a week between races now he will be a different horse next Saturday."
Holmes D G was also unsuited by being forced to sit three wide for the last lap of his race and battled into fifth while Ouch and Pocket Me did enough to also make the final, giving New Zealand a third of the field.
Who will start favourite, and the realistic winning hopes, will be decided tomorrow at the barrier draw which will be crucial to how the race is run.
Atitagain or Yulestar look certain leaders if they draw well, while horses like Courage Under Fire and Holmes D G also looking for marbles that will present them with economical trips.
The field for the final in points order. - Atitagain, Shakamaker, Courage Under Fire, Yulestar, Wally Walton, Lombo Rapida, Persistency, Holmes D G, Pocket Me, Cee New York, Ouch and Breeny's Fella. The emergencies are Zyuganov Leis and Tailamade Lombo.
Racing: Shakamaker in for a bite as favourite
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