By Ken Warren
The barrier draws for round two of the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship has thrown up a few curve balls with each heat winner from the first round drawing on the back row.
Leap To Fame, Swayzee, Better Eclipse and Future Assured will each have to overcome the second line if they are to continue on their winning way at Albion Park on Tuesday night.
Series favourite Leap To Fame showed his class in round one when he raced wide early before working to the front and going on to score by five metres.
The draw could pose more of a challenge but he will relish stepping up to a distance where he has won seven of nine attempts so his class can come to the fore again.
Expect big improvement from Spirit Of St Louis from the low draw after coming from the back line in round one.
He has the gate speed to go forward and strikes at 50 per cent at this distance.
Betterzippit draws wide again but is another likely improver after a solid fourth when resuming in his first heat while the ace draw brings Our Money Rocks into trifecta contention.
Swayzee is well placed again in the opening heat having extended his winning streak to 10 when he worked to the front and kept going to score by three metres in the first round.
He should appreciate the longer distance and is drawn to get a nice trail so can do it again.
Expect much better from Speak The Truth.
He was resuming from the second row on Friday but is much better served by this draw.
He races very well both second up and at this distance so should progress.
Petes Said So did a good job to finish midfield from a wide barrier in his first heat so can be competitive from the ace draw while Rock N Roll Doo has the same wide draw as Friday but he is much better than what he showed there so giving him another chance.
Turn It Up offers some value in the other heat with the aid of the ace draw.
He's been ticking along well and there was plenty of merit in his effort in round one.
He should enjoy the favours tonight so get his chance.
Better Eclipse was brave in victory in his first heat when he worked but proved too good.
He may have to do it the hard way again from this barrier but has a good record at this distance so if he backs up well he can deliver again.
Nerano came from a similar draw and chased well for second to Leap To Fame in the first round.
He goes well at this distance so should make an impact while Manila Playboy has come from the ace when runner up in both starts since a spell and draws well enough to feature again.
Meanwhile, defending champion for the Trotters Inter Dominion crown Just Believe showed his class in round one when taking full advantage of the ace draw to lead and win.
That was just his second start back from his European journey so his fitness will continue to build.
He is drawn to get a trail and should be hard to hold out.
It's an interesting clash with Plymouth Chubb who was impressive when steaming home to gun down the classy Queen Elida and win his opening heat. That was just his third start back from lengthy spell so he has scope for further improvement and he is aided by a low draw.
In the other heat Queen Elida looks likely to atone having suffered a surprise defeat in round one after leading for home as a hot favourite but the effort still had merit when she stuck on for second.
She is a classy mare who can go forward again from this draw.
Ollivici kicked off his series with a good win when he tracked the leader before proving too strong in the surge to the line.
That continued a string of wins and placings and while he draws wide he has won four of five attempts at this distance while Adelle sat parked and stuck on well to place in round one so should get better favours from the ace draw.