Racing: Dickie scoops pool at Melton

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Paramount Geegee's best mate has become his fiercest rival.

And while he and stablemate Flying Isa probably won't meet on the track for a couple of years, the Cambridge trotting champions are already old foes. And great friends.

The John Dickie-trained pair dominated their Australasian Breeders Crown finals yesterday, both winning effortlessly after aggressive drives from Robbie Holmes.

Paramount Geegee put the exclamation mark on the greatest season ever by a New Zealand 3-year-old trotter when he thrashed Aussie's best in the opening race, taking his record to 16 wins from 20 starts and over $500,000 in stakes.

That record means he could lay claim to being the best-performed young trotter produced in this part of the world, yet staggeringly driver Holmes says Flying Isa could be better.

The 2-year-old won his A$164,000 final by a cricket pitch, demoralising his rivals by trotting sectionals usually reserved for pacers.

And that was all part of Holmes' plan.

"I just let him run because he is such a great stayer," said Holmes, who turned 45 on Saturday.

And then the definitive statement of the trotting season.

"In fact, as good as Geegee is this fella might be better because he is tougher than Geegee was at the same stage.

"I know a lot can happen before next season but at this stage I'd say Flying Isa is better."

That is a scary thought for the connections of trotters looking to take on Flying Isa in the raft of rich 3-year-old trots next year.

Both he and Paramount Geegee will have a quiet next few months before finishing their New Zealand season in their home track Harness Jewels next June.

Then they will return to Australia, with Dickie adamant Paramount Geegee won't be asked to take on the older horses until he is 5.

"Too many good horses have been ruined that way so he can stick to his own age group next season."

The pair, both by Woodlands Stud sire Pegasus Spur, have won nearly $800,0000 between them in the past 18 months, unheard of figures for young trotters.

They have also been ideal flagships for Dickie's talents with trotters, which have been long respected but rarely emphasised by horses as freakish as Paramount Geegee and Flying Isa.

"It is a dream come true to have two horses like these two but while it looks like they win these races easily, it is hard to keep peaking horses this late into the season.

"To get the double today, just like we did on Harness Jewels day, is very rewarding."

The two youngsters spend much of their time together, nuzzling each other playfully in the stabling area after yesterday's races.

"And when we work them together the one who works in behind always goes better," said Dickie.

"So there really isn't much between them."

While young trotters often find the gap to the Grand Circuit a bridge too far, Dickie's pair are already trotting times that will make them competitive in the big time.

Just which one of the pair will make the bigger splash in open class remains to be seen