9 April, 2003

Courtesy of Anthony Corban (www.harnesslink.com)

David Butt has some tough decisions to make before the running of the $500,000 Christchurch Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final on Friday night at Addington Raceway.

Butt is the trainer-driver of pace setting sprint racing sensation Niobium (pictured)?who has drawn barrier one?in the 2600 metre mobile event.

Niobium has the quickest mobile gate speed among the top 12 runners that made the cut for the event after two weeks of qualifying rounds.

But there are genuine doubts about the ability of the 5-Year-Old to run out a distance event over 2600 metres.

Niobium has never finished in the first three place getters in any event when driven with a sit in the field.

In front is where Niobium likes to be and Butt was going to have a long discussion with owner Tony McGrath after yesterday?s barrier draw function about driving instructions before the Grand Final.

?From the draw I have to lead and then I have to make my mind up about what I want to do,? said Butt.

?Whenever I?ve tried to drive Niobium with a sit in the field he?s never run on in a race but then again you don?t getting many shots at a $500,000 race.

?It?s a tough one to call and the decision won?t be any easier for me with Kim (Prentice trainer-driver of Series favourite Baltic Eagle) stabling his horse on my property.?

Baltic Eagle has drawn well at barrier five and trainer-driver Kim Prentice will not be rushing the long striding gelding out of the mobile gate.

It would not surprise to see Baltic Eagle move forward and attempt to either secure the pace setting position or control the tempo of the race by sitting outside the leader.

If Baltic Eagle sat outside the leader there would be little movement from the rest of the field attempting to improve forward, as Prentice would not give up the death seat to any other runner.

One runner that will benefit from Niobium attempting to lead throughout will be the Barry Purdon trained Holmes D G.

The prolific Group One winner will track Niobium through from the second row (barrier one on the second line).

Holmes D G has a staggering sprint finish and has already won a qualifying heat of the series by capitalizing on the passing lane in operation at Addington Raceway.

Leading New Zealand-trained Free-For-All pacers Facta Non Verba and Sly Flyin will both need luck in the running.

Facta Non Verba begins from barrier 11 (two on the second line) and Sly Flyin starts from barrier 12 (three on the second line).

A hot early pace and movement from the back of the field will assist the win claims of both runners.

Leading Victorian-trained pacer Mont Denver Gold will begin from barrier 13 (four on the second line) but regular driver Chris Alford is not concerned.

?Mont Denver Gold is a sit sprint horse in any case?.. I just hope the pace is on all the way because if we get a tow into the race there isn?t a better sprint finisher in this field than my fella,? said Alford.