Racing: Touch of Flair impresses in New Zealand debut

It took A Touch Of Flair just a few minutes yesterday to erase the biggest fear any Australian trainer feels when visiting Alexandra Park with a horse for the first time.

The Victorian trotter will contest next week's $100,000 Rowe Cup and makes his New Zealand debut in the $25,000 lead-up race this Friday.

While Australian trotters have a good record in the Rowe Cup, few are able to win fresh-up on the unfamiliar right-handed track.

But A Touch Of Flair suggested that won't be a problem for him when beating track specialist Pompallier at the workouts yesterday.

Having his first look at Alexandra Park, the 5-year-old came from behind Pompallier to beat him, his last 800m in a steady 59s.

That will encourage trainer-driver Russell Thompson ahead of Friday night's feature trot in which A Touch Of Flair has a 20m handicap in a capacity field with his Interdominion conqueror Delft.

The race also features the Alexandra Park debut of exciting southern mare Inspire. While that would usually be enough to make it the race of the night, it won't be the case on Friday as the Taylor Mile has drawn one of the hottest fields in its history.

The $100,000 sprint, usually New Zealand's fastest race of the season, brings together Mainland Banner, Baileys Dream, Badlands Bute, Molly Darling, Mr Bojangles, Mr Williams and Dudinka's Cullen.

Mainland Banner will start warm favourite after drawing barrier two but faces a tricky test as she has little sprint experience.

One of her rivals, Mr Williams, also impressed at the workouts yesterday by pacing a 55s last 800m to beat class filly Western Dream but he has suffered by drawing barrier eight.

John Hay's decision to pay the $3400 late-entry fee to get Houdini Star into the $50,000 NRM Sires' Stakes Trot looks set to pay dividends as he drew three and arch-rival Galleons Assassin the second line in the 2200m event.

* Monkey King will have to prove he is the best 3-year-old pacer in Australasia to win Friday night's NSW Derby. The Pukekohe pacer has drawn outside two of Australia's 3-year-olds, Divisive and I Am Sam, in the A$100,000 classic in Sydney.