HARNESS RACING
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 1, 2011
MONKEY BUSINESSFriday night's second and final round of Interdominion heats at Alexandra Park will be make-or-break for several high-profile New Zealand-trained runners.In the pacers' series, Monkey King is stranded on three points and would need a top-three finish to be assured of a start in the final, while fellow Kiwi Smiling Shard (two points) is also facing elimination if he cannot jag a high placing.Other New Zealand runners living dangerously are Power Of Tara and Sleepy Tripp (both 3.5 points).Kiwi trainer Brendon Hill is flying the flag for the host country with Monkey King and Power Of Tara and admits he is feeling under siege after the dominant performances by Australian pacers in the first-round heats. Monkey King has drawn the back of Mr Feelgood in heat three, and Hill is hoping the Queensland pacer can hold the lead and give his horse the pull through. "As long as Mr Feelgood leads, then we've got his back and we'll finish one-two," Hill said. "We don't want to be three back the fence, but even then, we'd be following two nice horses. We'd rather be in the trail."Hill said Power Of Tara, drawn three in heat four against Smoken Up (one) and Smiling Shard (two), was flying.NOT RUSTYWollongong trainer John Porter is back in action and is hopeful of a strong showing from Rusty Reardon in Friday night's Allied Express Carousel Final, 2140m, at Bankstown. After a six-year hiatus, Porter returned to training with one horse at his Mt Keira stables last year, achieving success with Interdominion contender Hava Bonvoyage, which suffered a serious leg injury after the 2010 series at Menangle.Hava Bonvoyage, which is due to return later this year, reignited Porter's passion for the sport and he bought two more tried horses from New Zealand, Rusty Reardon and three-year-old filly Russian Ball, which makes her Australian debut next Tuesday.
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
