ADELAIDE - A Touch Of Flair faces two handicaps in tonight's Interdominion Trotting Final, one he can see and one he can't.
The outstanding Victorian trotter will start a red-hot favourite in the A$200,000 ($225,000) event, in which only New Zealand stablemates Glenbogle and Whatsundermykilt look realistic dangers.
A Touch Of Flair has always looked a potential superstar and could not have picked a better time to reach his career zenith, with New Zealand's open class ranks weak and many of our best squaregaiters missing the series.
That has seen A Touch Of Flair deal to both the Kiwi favourites in his two heats of the series, suggesting his 20m handicap holds few fears for him.
But while lining up with the entire field in front of him makes A Touch Of Flair's job significantly harder, the greatest obstacle he has to overcome is the curse that seems to dog Australia's best trotters come Interdominion time.
New Zealand trotters have dominated the series for the past 20 years, usually with good reason as our trotters tend to be better than the Australians.
But even the exceptional Australian trotters struggle come Interdom time.
Ten years ago Wagon Apollo was nosed out in the final by a heavenly performance from Pride Of Petite in a race the latter simply couldn't win but did. And in Sydney four years ago La Coocaracha looked past the post in the final only to be beaten by Game Bid, who was nothing more than a smart Kiwi trotter.
Trainer Russell Thomson believes he has at least one talisman against the curse as he is a New Zealander who grew up in Oamaru before moving to Australia. And he thinks A Touch Of Flair has the tools to do the rest.
"I think he is the best horse here," admits Thomson. "I respect the two Kiwi trotters but I think we are better than them and the horse is perfect at the moment."
It will take something special for one of the New Zealanders to beat him tonight.
Trainer Kevin Fairburn believes Whatsundermykilt is his best chance, citing the gelding's speed as his key weapon. Glenbogle may be the smarter each-way chance as he has improved since his second to A Touch of Flair last Saturday.
