Racing: Weary DG to struggle way through Interdoms

Champion trainer Tim Butt has come clean about the injury concerns clouding Mister D G's Interdominion campaign.

But he says the gelding will definitely start in his first round pacing heat of the $1.7 million series at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

After two days of stonewalling the media, Butt admitted to the Herald that Mister D G is suffering from minor leg problems.

That has forced Butt to send him to South Auckland beach trainer Michelle Wallis in an attempt to keep him sound.

"He is feeling the wear and tear of a very hard season," said Butt.

"We were worried about one of his legs last week so we got it scanned but it wasn't too bad, just some minor stuff.

"I thought by sending him out to the beach it would put less pressure on his legs and help him get through the series."

Butt says Mister D G should be able to last the series but admits the concerns weigh on his mind.

"I am sure he will be there but we have to be realistic about his chances.

"He has had a hard season and it is not going to be easy to beat horses like Elsu."

While Mister D G is the third best of the Kiwi pacers in the series he has not raced up to that form in the last month, with his battling second to Flashing Red in the Ballarat Cup last month the best indication of his fatigue levels.

"Horses can't race tough all the time at this level but we have had to press on with him because he is not getting any younger and you only get so many big races to have a crack at."

While Butt has his worries with Mister D G, he is not alone.

New South Wales horseman Graeme Watts is hoping a private workout at Alexandra Park on Wednesday can put Te Kanarama's campaign back on track.

The long-strider is one of the most exciting pacers in Australasia but also one of the most erratic on the Grand Circuit, as he showed when galloping badly on the home turn in at Alexandra Park workout on Saturday.

Te Kanarama never looked comfortable on the right-handed track, leaving Watts hoping he improves with more practice on the circuit.

"While it was not a good start to his campaign, at least I found out in a workout and not a race," said Watts.

"That will give me a chance to give him some more experience. If it had happened on racenight it would have been a disaster."

The incident raised fears from rival trainers, with Te Kanarama's gallop coming just two weeks after he galloped for no reason in the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley.

Several trainers at Saturday's workouts voiced their concerns the five-year-old could do the same on racenight, costing their horses not only the chance to win a heat but valuable points in the series.

Te Kanarama is not the first Australian pacer to struggle with Alexandra Park on debut, though, so deserves a second chance but it would be hard to back him to win the series with any confidence after Saurday's display.

His heat was won by Attorney General, who is strengthening up with summer racing. He beat stablemates Blue Chip Rock and Eagles Together in the 2200m in a smart 2:45.1.

The other highlight of the workouts was the open class trot, in which Pompallier beat Allegro Agitato and Take A Moment, with Allegro Agitato the most impressive.

* Te Kanarama's workouts failure failed to budge TAB bookies from their opinion he is the leading Australian chance in the pacing series.

He remained the $9 third favourite last night even though he has never won a major open class race, while dual Miracle Mile winnr Sokyola and Ballarat Cup winner Flashing Red are paying $11.

The biggest mover in either the pacing or trotting series in the last week has been Gold N Gold, who was backed in from $35 to $12, one Australian punter having $5000 on him.The feilds for the first round of heats are released at 3pm today.

Problem pacers

* Mister D G is under a slight injury cloud going into the Interdominions.

* Trainer Tim Butt insists the gelding will start in Friday night's first round of heats.

* Visiting Australian pacer Te Kanarama disgraces himself at the Alexandra Park workouts.

* He will return to the track for a private workout on Wednesday.