Racing: A touch of luck needed in rich Rowe Cup

A Touch Of Flair and Russell Thomson have dominated major races across the Tasman.

The last thing Russell Thomson threw into his gear bag before he came to New Zealand was the insurance policy he hoped he wouldn't need.

After the expensive display his trotter A Touch Of Flair put on at Alexandra Park last Friday that insurance policy may be his best, or only, chance of winning the $100,000 Rowe Cup.

The Australian trotter was tripped up by the same part of Alexandra Park's right-handed circuit that has cost so many visiting horses in the past - the last bend.

A Touch Of Flair galloped on it not once but twice when making his New Zealand debut last Friday, finishing a long way out of the money.

So his trainer-driver has opted for that insurance policy, better known as a set of half-hopples.

A Touch Of Flair has raced in the largely unpopular gear most of his career and wore them when he finished second to Delft in the Interdominion Final on February 12.

Thomson then took them off and A Touch Of Flair continued to race well. Until last Friday.

"I thought he would be fine with the track because he won a trial there last week," said Thomson.

"But he didn't handle that bend at all last week. It was very disappointing.

"So I have put the half hopples back on him. I don't really think he needs them and I only threw them in at the last minute just in case.

"I am glad I did now because I think they might boost his confidence."

Confidence could be all A Touch Of Flair needs to gain some revenge over Delft on Friday night as he gets a valuable 10m start on the giant Kiwi trotter.

While that doesn't sound like much over 3200m it could be worth many lengths once the capacity field gets strung out, provided of course A Touch Of Flair can step away quickly from his front line draw.

"That is one thing which surprised me a bit last week, was how hard they trotted early.

"He is not used to racing against so many good trotters in one race because obviously there is a lot more depth over here.

"So we were very much on the back foot straight after the start and I knew heading into that first bend we were in trouble because I could see he was going to gallop.

"I tried to talk him out of galloping but he wasn't listening."

A Touch Of Flair's first-up flop at Alexandra Park mirrors that of so many great trotters who have struggled to adapt to it in their first start. But top horses can often learn very quickly.

If he does that he can win on Friday as he has the speed of the best Kiwi trotters, although maybe lacking their stamina this early in his career.

"I am sure he can win with a peak run," enthuses Thomson, who used to live in New Zealand.

"If he trots away and could find the front he would be very hard to catch and I think he would handle the track better up against the markers.

"So the start will be very important to us."

It could also be important to punters as A Touch Of Flair could be around the $10 after his first-night failure, good odds for a trotter who was clear second favourite in the Interdominions when off level marks with Delft.

"Delft has to be the horse to beat while I was very impressed with Inspire the other night, she is a good mare.

"And I think Glenbogle can't be underestimated. I think the Interdominions and racing over home might have toughened him up."

While both Glenbogle and A Touch Of Flair will be at good odds on the New Zealand tote their presence in the field is being hailed as a boost by harness racing officials in Victoria.

Harness Racing Victoria has worked hard to get New Zealand harness racing televised in Australia on Friday night, with a series of feature races having been shown in the last six months.

"It helps us to have a horse like A Touch Of Flair there and horses like Glenbogle and Whatsundermykilt being driven by Victorian drivers," said HRV spokesman Shaun Kelly.

"Having the best New Zealand races on television with TAB betting on over here helps harness racing's profile on both sides of the Tasman."

* Outstanding New Zealand mare Molly Darling looks set for a winning return to Melbourne on Friday night.

The Brent Mangos-trained mare has drawn the front line in the Cinderella Stakes, the first leg of the Victorian mares' triple crown.

Even though she is slightly wide at barrier six the field contains few big names and Molly Darling is certain to start favourite.

Molly Darling isn't the only runner from last Friday's Taylor Mile to be missing from Friday night's $100,000 New Zealand Messenger, with Totally Different scratched from the group one class yesterday.