KEY POINTS:
ADELAIDE - Lance Justice didn't have the heart to tell Uncle Petrika he almost sold him.
As the Victorian horseman stood in the stabling area at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night, cradling the head of his newly crowned Interdominion Trotting champion, he pretended to cover the horse's
ears.
"We can't tell him we actually sold him this week, not after what he did tonight," said Justice.
Just 30 minutes earlier Uncle Petrika had produced one of the greatest upsets in Interdominion history by leading throughout to win the A$200,000 ($226,000) final at odds as long as 60-1.
The former New Zealand-trained trotter scooted straight to the lead and breezed over his last mile in 1:59.5 to hold out the challenge of hot favourite A Touch Of Flair.
Whatsundermykilt was the best of the two New Zealand reps, fighting his way into third while stablemate Glenbogle was a big disappointment.
Uncle Petrika had hinted at producing something like Saturday night's performance ever since Justice purchased him from Kiwi trainer Kevin Townley as a 3-year-old.
But his lack of manners had stopped him from becoming more than just a freak show - outstanding one start, dreadful in the next five.
He had tried Justice's patience so much he was sold to a United States-based trainer last Wednesday for a five-figure sum.
"I told him it was a done deal as long as the horse didn't win the Interdominion final, which I didn't really think he would do," said Justice.
But needless to say the sale is off.
"After winning this he is now automatically invited to the Breeders Crown over there so we might take him over there ourselves."
Justice puts the improvement in Uncle Petrika down to a new beach training regime.
"I hadn't done any beach work with him until recently and when I started I didn't really know what to do when I started.
"One of the other trainers told me he worked his good pacer five heats down the beach of 800m each time and I tried that but it wasn't enough.
"So I have been sending him down the beach up to eight heats a workout and he has loved it. He has really turned around."
The win was especially sweet for Justice as he was bought up in Adelaide and was the king of South Australian harness racing until he moved to Victoria eight years ago.
"To come home and win an Interdominion, it is better than winning two Miracle Miles or a Victoria Cup with Sokyola."
Not many punters would have shared Justice's excitement as Uncle Petrika cost them plenty by holding out red-hot favourite A Touch Of Flair.
He settled near last from his 20m handicap and couldn't get a cart into the race, meaning driver Darryl Douglas had to move forward three wide without cover in the quickly-run last mile.
He still looked the winner at the 400m until his exertions took their toll.
"He was simply giving the leader too much of a start and he suffered from not having another good horse in the race to cart him into it," said Douglas.
"At the top of the straight I had to give him one with the whip and I felt terrible doing it because he was already trying his hardest. So he dug even deeper and I am proud of what he did."
Whatsundermykilt was brave in third while Glenbogle's driver Chris Alford said the Canterbury trotter never felt like a winner.
His performance summed up the current Australasian open class trotting crop - uninspiring.
HOW THEY FINISHED
Interdominion grand final handicap trot, $200,000, stand, 2645m 9-9 Uncle Petrika (8) fr L Justice 1 1-1 A Touch Of Flair (13) 20 D Douglas 2 2-2
Whatsundermykilt (12) 10 S Walkinshaw 3 Scr: Backa Beyond. Time: 3:23.1. MR: Not available. Last 800m: Not available. Win: $76.00. Places: $10.10, $1.20, $1.50. Quinella: $30.80. Trifecta: $814.00. Sub: A Touch Of Flair (13). Trainer: Lance Justice, Melton. Breeding: 7 g Britewell USA-Jenola Bay (nz).