Top Rivals See Eye To Eye After Barrier-draw Ruckus

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday March 13, 2002

John Schell

Victorian pacer Shakamaker and pocket rocket Courage Under Fire are set to face each other from the start of Friday night's $500,000 InterDominion grand final at Harold Park.

At a barrier draw packed with controversy yesterday, 2000 InterDominion winner Shakamaker drew barrier four while his arch rival, the Brian Hancock-prepared Courage Under Fire, came up with gate five.

Combatants since their three-year-old days, the six-year-olds have built up a fantastic rivalry, with drivers Hancock and John Justice fierce competitors.

Justice, however, is not likely to be a part of the final, yesterday having an appeal against suspension dismissed. He is trying another avenue of appeal which should be decided this morning.

Instead, veteran Brian Gath, a winner with the horse in his only drive, in the Victoria Cup, will partner Shakamaker.

Before the draw for the 2565m final, it was announced the Dennis Wilson-trained Seelster Sam, the second emergency, was not able to take his place even if he secured a berth.

Kiwi pacer Pic Me Pockets was elevated into the field as third emergency after seemingly having no place in what was announced as a 14-horse final with two reserves on Friday night.

``It was an oversight that Pic Me Pockets wasn't originally included," Harness Racing NSW handicapper Mark Read said. ``The rules state there is a field of 12, plus three emergencies, and we realised that on Monday."

Seelster Sam, described by calcutta auctioneer Paul Davies as being ``in an ambulance heavily sedated", was still drawn in the field, despite official notification by the NSW Harness Racing Club that he was scratched from the final before the barrier draw was made.

John Dumesny, racing manager of NSWHRC, said: ``The rules of the series state that any runner that secures a run in a final after contesting the heats must be drawn in the final."

While the Shakamaker and Courage Under Fire camps were understandably happy, Miracle Mile winner Smooth Satin's trainer-driver, Steve Turnbull, was downcast.

``What can we do now?" he said after his charge drew barrier 15, the outside of the second row. ``We'll need plenty of luck after coming up with that."

Turnbull was adamant Seelster Sam shouldn't have been drawn in the final, instead just marked down as scratched.

``Seelster Sam is supposed to be out of the race, and was before the draw was conducted," Turnbull said.

``Why they drew him in the race, I don't know."

TAB Ltd's fixed-odds betting spokesman, Glenn Munsie, agreed with Turnbull.

``I can't believe they included a horse in the barrier draw which has no chance at all of starting," Munsie said.

``By drawing that horse in the field it has changed the whole complexion of the barrier draw.

``If Seelster Sam wasn't drawn, then the whole make-up of the draw would look different."

Amazingly, Seelster Sam was still offered for sale in the post-draw calcutta.

In an act of good faith, former NSWHRC president Tony McGrath, now a club director, purchased the horse with a $50 donation to charity.

InterDominion field Page 33