Racing: Winning trot should continue for Dickie

Paramount Geegee should add to trainer John Dickie's good record. Photo / Christine Cornege

John Dickie never thought it would be like this.

The quietly spoken Cambridge trainer heads into Sunday's Australasian Breeders Crown with two redhot favourites in races worth over A$260,000 combined.

A year ago that prospect would have been a dream for Dickie. Now it is almost normal.

Because less than three months ago he found himself in the same situation with Flying Isa and Paramount Geegee at the Harness Jewels.

The pair were hot favourites in the 2 and 3-year-old trotting divisions of the Jewels and got punters home, as they have on most occasions in the past 12 months.

They have been almost faultless in feature races, winning five group ones between them in the past year and over $615,000 - records unheard of for young trotters in this part of the world.

After securing perfect draws in Sunday's two finals at Melton, they are expected to continue Dickie's transformation from respected trotting trainer to the man with the most feared one-two combination in trotting.

Dickie says the pair are helping make the journey easier.

"Having been through this with both of them several times now, especially at the Jewels, takes the pressure off," said Dickie.

"I know what they can do and how to peak them and as long as I get them there ready they usually do the rest."

Dickie's confidence in the glamour babies increased after two vastly different hitouts at the Kilmore trials on Tuesday.

Flying Isa stunned locals by beating the 2-year-old pacers, whereas Paramount Geegee was not asked for anything as serious when he finished second in a 3-year-old pacing heat.

Flying Isa led throughout to win over 2180m in a 2:01.6 mile rate, a repeat of which will be good enough to win on Sunday.

"I didn't intend giving Flying Isa a hitout like that but it felt like he was walking, he did it that easily," said Dickie. "He feels like he is right where he needs to be."

Paramount Geegee showed he has fully recovered from a cut bizarrely suffered in a one-horse Breeders Crown heat win at Alexandra Park last month when he ran home well in his trial.

"He is a pro and trotted beautifully so I am very confident with him, too, probably more so out of the two of them."

Both Dickie trotters meet solid but not sensational opposition and have the draws to lead and win on Sunday.

So much so Australian bookmakers have them at $1.50 (Paramount Geegee) and $1.70 for Flying Isa.

Flying Isa meets fellow Kiwi juveniles You Rock and Maidstone Miss, although the latter is now trained in Victoria, in his final.

Dickie's stars will not be the only New Zealand favourites on the day with Cowgirls N Indians opening a $1.85 favourite for the A$312,000 2-year-old fillies' final even after drawing the second line.

And Tatijana Bromac is the $3 top pick in the 3-year-old final, again from a bad draw.

Franco Jamar is rated the $5 third favourite from the ace against Lanercost in the 4-year-old pace.

Tonight will mark a rare Friday without harness racing in New Zealand. The Addington meeting has been abandoned because of the snow.