KEY POINTS:
The defeat of one Aussie champ has brought another to Alexandra Park tonight.
In February, 3-year-old pacing hero Lombo Pocket Watch arrived in Auckland with the most imposing record in Australian pacing yet finished a career-worst fourth in a heat of the Woodlands Derby after failing to handle the right-handed track.
While he recovered to finish second to Changeover in the derby, his defeat proved a valuable lesson for Peter Rixon, the man behind Australia's leading 4-year-old, Divisive.
Divisive makes his New Zealand debut against veteran warhorse Sly Flyin in a $12,000 mobile event tonight; a race Rixon wouldn't have bothered competing in had it not been for Lombo Pocket Watch's first-up defeat.
Divisive is in Auckland for the rich Taylor Mile-Messenger double which starts next Friday and Rixon is adamant tonight's race will help him prepare mentally for next week.
"Before he came over here, you would have sworn that Lombo Pocket Watch wouldn't be bothered by the track because he is such a good pacer," said Rixon.
"But he struggled on it fresh-up and was a lot better the next week.
"That is when I decided if I was coming I'd like a race here before the big ones so he could get used to the track."
Divisive could be one of the best Australian horses to come to Alexandra Park in the past 20 years, with a stunning four derbies among his record-breaking season last term.
He has won his last two races in New South Wales easily and is the heir apparent to Blacks A Fake's crown as the best pacer in Australia.
He has pleased Rixon with how he has settled in this week but the trainer admits the right-handed track presents its challenges.
"I have worked him twice behind the mobile at Alexandra Park going right-handed and it feels a bit weird," said Rixon, who has never driven in New Zealand.
"So that makes it hard for me to predict what we are going to do this week.
"I'd like to lead because he is almost unbeaten in front but a lot will depend on how sharp he is coming off the gate this way around."
Rixon rates Divisive as close to peak fitness but believes tonight's race will bring him on nicely for the Taylor next Friday.
"But he is still ready to win or go very close.
"And if a horse like Sly Flyin beats him then that will be all right because he is a very good horse."
Sly Flyin is the obvious danger to the Aussie raider after another crushing win at Alexandra Park in a stronger field last Friday.
His last three starts have all been incredibly impressive and if he can work forward of Divisive then he will be nearly impossible to run down.
A key player in the 2200m event could be Napoleon, who has great gate speed and loves short trips. His fourth to Sly Flyin last Friday was strong.
Sly Flyin's trainer-driver, Tony Herlihy, faces another tricky draw with Everlaughing Life in tonight's other pacing feature.
The filly was a strong fifth in last Friday's Northern Oaks but may not be as well suited by tonight's 1700m trip, especially with main rival Belletti likely to lead.
