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Auckland Reactor draws poorly; still favored by bettors

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March 23, 2009

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Auckland Reactor became the favorite to win the $1A million Inter Dominion final on March 28 after he captured the last qualifying round on Saturday night, March 21, and not even the worst possible starting position--gate 13, outside the second tier--has stopped bettors from unloading their cash on the largely North American-owned Auckland Reactor.

Auckland Reactor, a 4-year-old son of Mach Three, a winner of 21 of his 23 starts, was paying $1.75 (for a $1 bet) before the draw, but did ease to $2.50 straight after it.

Now the focus switches to who will drive Auckland Reactor in the final. Trainer Mark Purdon was suspended for six weeks following his controversial losing drive on Auckland Reactor in the first round of heats last Saturday week. Purdon has appealed. It will be heard later this week and, if successful, he will be able to drive in the final.

But the odds of Purdon winning the appeal are remote.

Champion Kiwi driver Tony Herlihy took the reins last Saturday night and drove like a man possessed. Auckland Reactor returned to winning form in monster fashion, winning the fastest of the three heats over 2,100 meters in a 1:56 mile rate.

Everybody expected Herlihy to take the lines again in the final, providing Purdon didn't win his appeal. Wrong.

Herlihy was pressured into sticking with rank outsider Gotta Go Cullen (Christian Cullen-Sparkling Burgundy), a pacer he trains, by owner Ian Dobson of Christian Cullen fame.

The barrier draw was also cruel to North American import Mr. Feelgood. He will start from alongside Auckland Reactor in post 12. It continued a frustrating Inter Dominion for the Mr. Feelgood team. First he endured a tough run when third in his opening heat and then luck was against him again when he finished a tiring fifth on March 21.

"It's a big ask now," driver Anthony Butt said of Mr. Feelgood�s prospects starting from post 12. "Nothing has gone right for him so far and I was actually a tad disappointed with his run last Saturday night. We think we might have been a bit easy on him in training so we'll get into him more this week.

"The one upside to the draw is that Auckland Reactor is back there with us,� added Butt. �He's going to have to make a move at some stage and my aim will be to try and follow him."

The tide of the Inter Dominion turned in favor of hometown hero Blacks A Fake (Fake Left-Colada Hanover), who is chasing an unprecedented fourth successive win in the great race. After indifferent form in the lead-up to the series, Blacks A Fake has scored a win and a terrific second in his two Inter Dominion heats. More importantly, the barrier draw gave him gate one. He looks almost certain to lead and be very, very hard to run down.

"You always need luck in big races like this and we've had plenty with the draw," trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen said. �It's great to draw so well with `Blacky' and to have Auckland Reactor right out the back certainly helps our cause."�By Adam Hamilton

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