Ace draws for key runners

All eyes will be on barrier one in both of Friday night’s heats of the Interdominion trotting series after key runners Big Jack Hammer and Marcoola secured the ace draw.

Clinching the sought after starting spot following the draw continued a nearly perfect lead up to the series Victorian trainer David Aiken is enjoying with his seven-year old.

Big Jack Hammer has settled in well at John and Josh Dickie’s Clevedon property alongside fellow Australians Tough Monarch and McLovin.

‘‘Everything is good – the horse has settled in good,’’ Aiken said. ‘‘The three Aussies at John and Josh Dickie’s have all settled in well.’’

The only thing that could be going slightly better with The Pressquaregaiter is his preparation for right-handed racing.

But, that got a big boost when Big Jack Hammer drew pole position for the first 2200m heat of the trotting series.

Racing on the inside of the track – the best place for a righthanded rookie – should give Victorian every chance to adjust to the Alexandra Park style quickly.

‘‘It is fantastic, we couldn’t have asked for a better draw,’’ Aiken said. ‘‘The first time around going right handed, it is probably going to work out pretty good.’’

Big Jack Hammer’s right handed work since landing in New Zealand has not been perfect, but he has shown his trainer enough to suggest the direction will not cause a major problem during the series.

Big Jack Hammer’s gate speed and his record in group one sprints in Australia make him a big player in the first heat of the trotting series.

He proved he was key contender in last year’s series when producing top four finishes in each of the three Victorian heats before running ninth in the final after being shuffled back in the field.

It is that kind of run that could hinder Big Jack Hammer’s chances of helping Aiken add an Interdominion Trotting title to the pacing championship he won in 2015 with Lennytheshark.

Decisions on which, if any, of his rivals could give the trotter a nice run in the trail will sit with leading reinsman Luke McCarthy.

McCarthy will jump back in the sulky for the first time since he left Sydney two years ago.

Few horses drawn outside Big Jack Hammer look to have the gate speed to cross the Victorian immediately after that start.

The same scenario should play out for the horse many expect to lead from pole position in heat two of the trotting series.

Marcoola looks the obvious early leader judging by the blazing beginning he made when smashing the national mile (1609m) record at Ashburton two starts ago.

The new arrival at Barry Purdon’s stable will need to hold out northern gate flier Credit Master if he and driver Sheree Tomlinson are going to put in a repeat of their dazzling Ashburton display.

Credit Master looks capable of at least testing Marcoola early in their 2200m heat.

Should Big Jack Hammer and Marcoola lead each heat it would hand a perfect run to the horses drawn behind them.

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