KEY POINTS:
Houdini Star will have a dramatic gear change in an attempt to buy some big-race luck on Friday.
The 5-year-old is arguably the best trotter in New Zealand but nobody could argue against the fact he is the unluckiest.
So it was hardly surprising to trainer-driver John Hay when Houdini Star drew the second line again in Friday night's $150,000 Pacific Sheet And Coil Rowe Cup.
That is the latest in a frustrating string of poor draws for the gelding, dating back to his 3-year-old days.
"He drew the second line in the Trotting Derby and the Victorian Trotting Derby that season," said Hay.
He also drew the second line in both the Dominion Handicap and NZ Trotting Champs, the two richest races he has contested this season. "It would be nice to get a good draw for once," said Hay yesterday. "Then luck wouldn't become such a factor. Now we're going into the race needing a few things to go right, or at least nothing to go wrong."
Lady Luck divorced herself from Houdini Star in the final lead-up race last Friday, when Hay spent half the race trying to get off the markers. And even after that was achieved, he got little room in the home straight.
So he has dug deep into the gear bag to try and conjure up some luck on Friday by adding pull-down blinds to Houdini Star's gear.
"I have worked him in them at home a few times and he has sprinted well when I pulled them down. I'm not sure if they will help but at this level a half length can be the difference."
One small consolation for Hay is that Rowe Cup favourite Our Sunny Whiz has drawn alongside Houdini Star on the second line. "She is still the horse to beat because she is on top of her game. But we are both going to need luck now."
The pair's second line draws didn't stop the TAB installing them as the favourites for the race last night, with Our Sunny Whiz opening at $2.10 and Houdini Star at $5.
That left plenty of percentage in the market for trotters like Mountbatten ($8), 2006 Rowe Cup winner Inspire ($13) and last Friday's winner Romper Stomper, who is huge overs at $18 with Tony Herlihy confirmed to take the reins.
While Alexandra Park is a track where barrier draws are usually crucial, you wouldn't know that looking at the markets for Friday's feature races.
Changeover opened a $1.50 favourite from the second line in the Messenger, with arch-rival Gotta Go Cullen at $3.60 from barrier seven. Sovereignty is rated a $1.50 chance from the second line in the Northern Trotting Derby while Alexis is a remarkably short favourite in the Sires Stakes.
