KEY POINTS:
Australia's greatest young pacer is coming to Auckland and he is bringing a mate.
Lombo Pocket Watch confirmed his Woodlands Great Northern Derby campaign when he thrashed leading Kiwi 3-year-old Fergiemack in the Victoria Derby at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Saturday night.
The freakish youngster bounced back
from a shock defeat in his heat the previous week to lead almost throughout, racing clear at the top of the straight to extended his incredible career record.
He has now only been beaten twice, once when knocked over as a 2-year-old, the other when asked to sit parked last week.
With record stake earnings for a young Australian pacer he is now being compared to New Zealand's champion youngster of seven years ago, Courage Under Fire.
But to earn that comparison he has to travel and still dominate and he will get his chance to do that in the next six weeks.
Lombo Pocket Watch would have been an automatic entrant into the $200,000 Derby at Alexandra Park on March 2 but will instead contest a prelude a week earlier.
That was trainer Paul Fitzpatrick's decision after talking to Tony Herlihy, the champion Kiwi horseman who trains Fergiemack.
Realising just how tricky Alexandra Park can be for a young horse, Fitzpatrick will allow Lombo Pocket Watch to contest the prelude to make sure the superstar is more at home on the track by the time the classic comes around.
Fitzpatrick has also decided to bring his stablemate Lombo Mandingo, who was third after blasting to the lead and then trailing on Saturday night.
He has always lived in Lombo Pocket Watch's shadow and probably wouldn't be making the trip except as a travelling companion.
Still, with his blazing gate speed it will surprise if he doesn't make his way into the Derby by finishing in the first five in the prelude.
One reason Lombo Pocket Watch is coming to New Zealand is that his owner, Mick Lombardo, is considering retiring him to stud at the end of his 3-year-old season and realises a major New Zealand win would greatly aid his stallion career, not to mention the sales ring value of his stock.
If he can win, or even place in the Derby, he would be as good as qualified for the rich Harness Jewels series at Ashburton in June.
Beaten Fergiemack was fantastic in running second on Saturday night, having to come from near last at the bell.
He paced his final 800m three wide in 55.7 seconds, thrilling Herlihy.
Earlier in the night New Zealand trotter Delft caused one of the surprises of the summer when he returned to winning form in the Dullard Cup.
It was the giant trotter's first win since last February's Interdominion Final on the same track and was the high point of a disappointing season.
He led throughout to down Australian star A Touch Of Flair, with fellow New Zealand representative Glenbogle third.