By MICHAEL GUERIN
GOLD COAST - John Justice faces the toughest decision of his career with Shakamaker if they are to defend their Interdominion crown.
The Victorian pacer shortened to 2-1 favouritism for Saturday night's $A500,000 Pacing Final after drawing barrier four yesterday.
While the draw looks ideal, it leaves his trainer-driver Justice with a difficult choice.
Shakamaker has blazing gate speed and Albion Park is a frontrunners' track so the most obvious theory is Justice will look for the front with Shakamaker.
But the big horse's best performances have been when he has not been used early but allowed to storm home over the top - the tactics in last season's Grand Final.
"I will have a good look at the field and think about tactics but I don't have a definite plan yet," said Justice.
Shakamaker's two most favoured rivals both drew outside him, with leading points scorer Atitagain at barrier seven and Courage Under Fire drawing five.
The New Zealanders had mixed luck with Pocket Me getting the ace and Ouch next to him, but Holmes D G drew the outside of the front and Yulestar one on the second line.
Pocket Me's draw should ensure he will lead, from where driver Anthony Butt can choose who he hands up to.
"My horse would be better with a trail so if the right horse challenges then I might take a sit," said Butt.
While the draws mean Pocket Me (14-1) and Ouch (25-1) should get economical runs both Holmes D G and Yulestar can't win unless the race turns into trench warfare.
Their only real hope is if the leaders get very serious early and make the race for the swoopers coming from the back.
That is possible but it is also a very hard and rare way to win an Interdominion.
"The draws make it tough but I am not giving up on him. I just hope they go hard" said Holmes D G's trainer-driver Barry Purdon.
"I think having increased security guard coverage on the race will help us. I have only started Holmes D G in four races for which security guards were used before the race and he has won all of them."
While Shakamaker tightened to clear favouritism after the draw, Atitagain drifted to $5 and Courage Under Fire to $6.
But the value bet could be Persistency at $7 who has been a big improver during this series. and his connections were very confident he could begin fast enough to wrest the lead off Pocket Me, from where he would be very hard to catch.
Barrier draw: 1. Pocket Me, 2. Ouch, 3. Persistency, 4. Shakamaker, 5. Courage Under Fire, 6. Breenys Fella, 7. Atitagain, 8. Holmes D G, 9. Yulestar, 10. Cee New York, 11. Wally Walton, 12 Lombo Rapida.
Racing: Winning team look hot
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