All clear for Inter Dominion

THE final equine flu hurdle will be cleared when interstate stars Divisive and Slipnslide open their Melbourne Inter Dominion campaigns on Saturday.

Fears that horses from the EI-affected states of New South Wales and Queensland would not be allowed to contest harness racing's premier event, prompting calls to postpone the Inter Dominion, seem distant memories.
There are 18 harness horses in quarantine at the Geelong harness racing track.
Divisive's trainer-driver Peter Rixon praised the efforts of officials in NSW and Victoria.
"The work that's gone into arranging all of this is enormous," he said.
"This has been a very difficult time for a lot of people, but everything has been done to make it as smooth as possible. We're almost through it all now."
The NSW and Queensland horses were required to spend seven days in quarantine in their home states before another seven days at Geelong.
Pending approval from the Department of Primary Industries, they will be free to leave the Geelong facility on Friday.
"That's what we're all looking forward to, getting our horses into stables where they can settle down and get into their racing campaigns," Rixon said.
"It's been a difficult time, but I've done plenty of work with the horse in training. He needs racing now."
Divisive will open his campaign, aimed mainly at the $750,000 Inter Dominion final at Moonee Valley on March 1, in Saturday night's $40,000 Shepparton Cup.
"It's a standing-start, which will both give me a race and a guide where to go after this week. If he steps well from the stand, the Hunter Cup (February 3) is a logical option," Rixon said.
Young Queensland trainer-driver Luke McCarthy is looking further afield with Slipnslide when he leaves Geelong on Friday.
McCarthy's father John said he was confident a flight could be arranged from Melbourne to Adelaide for Slipnslide to contest Saturday night's $100,000 Group 1 South Australian Cup at Globe Derby.
"Luke's really keen, but only if there is a plane. He won't do the road trip with the hot weather that's being forecast," he said.
The McCarthy family's other pacing star, dual Miracle Mile winner Be Good Johnny, will open his Melbourne campaign in the $50,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup on Saturday week.
Australia's best pacer Blacks A Fake, who has pleased trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen in quarantine at Geelong, is also being set for the Moonee Valley Cup.