Racing: Big win sets up clash of trotting stars

The man behind Speeding Spur says the superstar trotter can get better after his dazzling win in the A$300,000 Great Southern Star. Photo / Stuart McCormick

The man behind Speeding Spur says the superstar trotter can get better after his dazzling win in the A$300,000 Great Southern Star.

And that potentially sets up one of the great arch rivalries in New Zealand trotting history between him and Monbet.

The two four-year-olds have exploded on to the open class scene and dominated their older rivals, with Speeding Spur claiming Australasian trotting's richest prize at Melton on Saturday night.

He was a brave second in his heat then came from a seemingly hopeless spot in the final two and a half hours later, storming home from three back on the inside to win going away.

The winner of 16 of his 27 starts, Speeding Spur already has three Derbys and a Breeders Crown to his name but co-trainer John Dickie is adamant he can keep improving.

"I am amazed how much better he has got in the last month alone," says Dickie.

"He is getting sharper and I think he can improve again next season.

"It is exciting for us but also for trotting because Monbet is a very good horse and they already have a great rivalry and hopefully that can go on for a few years."

The pair are set to clash three more times this season, twice at Alexandra Park later next month and then in the season-ending Jewels at Cambridge on June 4.

Speeding Spur needed plenty of luck to win the final but co-trainer and driver Josh Dickie, on his 25th birthday, was ice cool.

"It was a great drive by Josh and we always believed he could win," said Dickie.

"It is my biggest thrill in racing and it's exciting to think about what might lie ahead for him."