About the time the big Irish galloper Oscar Schindler became the big disappointment of the 1996 Melbourne Cup, Irishman William Flanagan was reading Hoffman's story in Hoof Beats, becoming increasingly interested in sending his pacer Sable Matters USA to Adelaide. It came as a surprise to South Australian officials to even learn that pacers did race in Ireland, though meetings are conducted there on just one track. Stakemoney is not large, but punting on these races is keen. An American-bred horse, Sable Matters USA was a three-quarter brother of Sabilize USA. It had done all its early racing in North America taking a record of 1:52.2, winning stakemoney of almost $500,000. In Ireland the horse mixed light stud duty with some racing, coming off severe backmarks in a system where mobile racing is conducted with coloured ribbons identifying the various handicaps.

Flanagan, who operates a transport business, had heard how NSW horseman Brian Hancock had won good races in Australia with Sabilize USA. Now he decided to send his smallish looking pacer to be trained by Hancock for the Inter Dominion. On arrival in Melbourne the horse was sent to do 14 days quarantine at Spotswood. During this enforced stay, veteran Melbourne hobby trainer Jack Sexton jogged the Irish-owned pacer on a mowed section of a paddock inside the boundaries of the quarantine area. When Brian Hancock took over its preparation, he was soon pleasantly surprised with the power-packed pacer that had travelled half-way around the world for the forthcoming Inter Dominion. It was a bitter pill to swallow when the trainer was forced to pull the plug on the horse competing in Adelaide. Considering the efforts of Sam Leaker (SA Chief Executive) and the steering committee to attract overseas horses to this Inter Dominion, to have gone so close and failed proved quite frustrating, but well worth having tried.

If the quality of pacers to contest the Adelaide Inter Dominion did include most of the best horses in the country, it was disappointing how South Australian-trained horses lacked the ability to be given even the slightest chance of winning. However, the State did have the next best thing -- the successful Rainbow Knight, owned by two well known members of the SAHRC, but now trained in Sydney by Darren Binskin. It would be driven by Lisa Justice, who had cut her teeth on driving at Globe Derby Park. Under Inter Dominion rules, it would compete as a South Australian.

Binskin was a third generation horseman. By his own admission, as a lad he had been brash, outspoken and quite cocky in taking on the world. He had loved being in the limelight. During the 1980s he had become a close friend of the late and great Vin Knight, often trying to model himself on this controversial character who had taken Australian pacing by the scruff of the neck with his unrivalled success. Since Lisa Justice had become Binskin's partner both on and off the track, a certain maturity had overtaken the horseman which had helped the pair become successful with the team of horses they raced. "Lisa has been the turning point of my career," he told one journalist. "She's been a great help, a real settling influence, although I guess I will always be a bit of a wild boy at heart," he confessed.

The arrival of the pair from Sydney was welcomed warmly by Adelaide trotsgoers, keen to see a local horse do well. The stable also had brought with them the Kiwi-bred Jay Jay Gee NZ which they expected to be competitive at this level. Lisa Justice would drive Rainbow Knight with Binskin to pilot Jay Jay Gee NZ. It would not be Binskin's first attempt in the big series. In fact, he had actually made it into three previous Grand Finals, finishing fourth with Karalta Gift in 1986 and sixth with this horse two years later, then fourth behind the Knight-trained Jane Ellen in Adelaide in 1990. (His father John Binskin had won the 1988 Sydney Grand Final driving Our Maestro for Vin Knight.)

Iraklis NZ and its stablemate Anvils Star NZ had arrived in Adelaide in a fanfare of publicity, with Robert Cameron's four-year-old rated by most as the horse to beat. The Purdon stable was also there with Surprise Package NZ, the winner of the recent A.G. Hunter Cup. Bookmakers were wary of the fine record Brian Hancock had been building in these carnivals, so often having his horses peaking at the business end of a series when the form of other horses was tapering off after hard racing. Hancock would be represented by Our Sir Vancelot NZ and Quantum Lobell, both expected to have no fears coping with the 845.5m Globe Derby Park track.

Another respected trainer to have dual acceptors was Sydney's Peter Walsh who would start Late Bid NZ and the American-bred Tibet USA. His usual driver Robbie Byrnes had incurred the displeasure of Melbourne stewards, receiving a two-week suspension. Walsh moved quickly to secure the young but talented Ricky Thurlow to replace Byrnes. The trainer briefly had his plans thrown into confusion when Thurlow was suspended by NSW stewards for a week only days before the opening night of heats. Thurlow appealed with some good fortune when it was decided the appeal could not be heard until after the Inter Dominion, allowing him to drive in Adelaide on a stay of proceedings. In the days leading up to opening night, Melbourne stewards also handed a two-week suspension to Ahmed Taiba who had Ryans Day NZ engaged in Adelaide. This penalty was altered to a $750 fine on appeal.

FIRST NIGHT

It has already been mentioned how this Adelaide Inter Dominion Carnival earned praise from just about every quarter. But it did begin on a low note when the unexpected happened, creating acute embarrassment for officials and upsetting some trainers. A 10-minute opening ceremony had been programmed just prior to the opening heat. When the club's main guest (the SA Governor) was caught up in traffic outside the course, the entertainment arranged to be part of the official opening, was suddenly extended as frustrated officials waited for their special guest. Vocalists warbled on, and a Maori warrior went into an extended act, while horses in the first heat continued to circle the marshalling area, their drivers told to remain in their sulkies and keep in an orderly line.

Much to the annoyance of drivers in that race, the opening heat was delayed a half-hour. The trainer of Ryans Day NZ (Ahmed Taiba) later claimed his horse had blood in its mouth having had to leave its tongue tie on for 40 minutes. Several other drivers were highly critical of officials placing so much importance in the delayed ceremony when it was the horses that everyone had come to see. When it was suddenly realised that the Inter Dominion and New Zealand flags were being flown upside down trackside, it seemed that nothing else surely could go wrong. One thing did that night. The club's track grader snapped in two. If one was handicapping Inter Dominion carnivals, Adelaide was surely starting from a backmark. But in fairness to the SAHRC, the remainder of the series became a truly great event in the true traditions of the best these carnivals provide.

As is always of great interest at Inter Dominions staged in Australia where there are betting rings, bookmakers often have to frame markets with little local form as a guide. This means they have to bring horses together from all points of the compass, though Melbourne's summer carnival can be a reliable indicator of form for horses coming from that direction. It was no surprise that Desperate Comment NZ should be a 5/2 favourite in Heat 1 from Young Mister Charles NZ and Brabham NZ. But it was intriguing to see Manaville, the controversial inclusion in the last Miracle Mile, was rated a 12/1 outsider despite coming to Adelaide a winner of its latest three starts and then drawing ideally in barrier 2.

Despite working around the field in the middle stages to race without cover, Desperate Comment NZ went to the line strongly to defeat Sovereign Hill NZ and Jay Jay Gee NZ. It was a result that delighted Graeme Lang. "He was coasting," said Lang. "They ran the time and he did it easily. I think he could have gone for another lap." There were few hard-luck stories to be gleaned from this pipe-opener.

Heat 1 - 1800m: Desperate Comment NZ (Graeme Lang), 1; Sovereign Hill NZ (Darren Hancock), 2; Jay Jay Gee NZ (Darren Binskin), 3. MR 1:58.3.

In pre-post betting on Heat 2, bookmakers had no hesitation making Iraklis the 1/2 favourite, ahead of Quantum Lobell, The Suleiman NZ and Surprise Package NZ . But not everyone thought the boom Kiwi pacer had the race at its mercy. The headlines in the Adelaide Advertiser that morning splashed across the page: "Why wonder Kiwi can't win." Local writer Ben Scadden is quiet and unflappable, but here he was adamant the Robert Cameron-trained favourite could not win over what the writer thought was an unsuitable distance for it, and starting from barrier 10 on the second row. Scadden also pointed out how the well supported Quantum Lobell from barrier 2 could lead all the way. Betting closer to the race saw Iraklis NZ drift marginally as some of his army of supporters were having second thoughts on taking the short odds that had suggested Iraklis was a 'good thing.'

The five-year-old Quantum Lobell did lead throughout, holding Iraklis NZ in the sprint to the line by reeling off a final quarter in 27.9. The win underlined how much influence Brian Hancock was exerting on this carnival with Our Sir Vancelot NZ, Elite Rena and Quantum Lobell all engaged. Hancock expressed an opinion that Iraklis NZ had been a little disappointing. "He should have gone to the line with me. That run shows me I have got no reason to be really worried about Iraklis NZ." Robert Cameron looked at the race in a different light, warning punters not to be too hasty dismissing the claims of his horse in winning the Grand Final. Getting home well from barrier 9 was Surprise Package NZ to grab fourth after being forced to track out wide when making its run.

Heat 2 - 1800m: Quantum Lobell (Brian Hancock), 1; Iraklis NZ (Ricky May), 2; The Suleiman NZ (Michael Langdon), 3. MR 1:58.5.

Heat 3 had not only brought four of the top hopes together in the same race, but all four had drawn barriers 1 to 4 -- Rainbow Knight, Our Sir Vancelot NZ, Anvils Star NZ and Norms Daughter. Island Glow USA had fared poorly in barrier 11 on the second line, giving Peter Tritton little chance of the horse being able to use its speed from there.

Rainbow Knight raised the expectations of the parochial local crowd when he sped to the early lead. Perth reinsman, Chris Lewis, driving Norms Daughter for the first time, remained cool under pressure. He found little value in giving the mare a torrid run up on the outside of the leader. Lewis was rewarded at the finish when the mare got the better of Anvils Star NZ and Rainbow Knight. "It's the best she has pulled up for a long time," a delighted Neil Lloyd later stated. "She is slowly getting back to her best, being about 90 per cent tonight. I reckon she will peak come Grand Final night." It was a sentimental win for Lewis, as back in 1976 he had become the youngest reinsman to win an Inter Dominion championship with his father's horse Carclew. That was before he had moved to live in Perth.

Heat 3 - 1800m: Norms Daughter (Chris Lewis), 1; Anvils Star NZ (Anthony Butt), 2; Rainbow Knight (Lisa Justice), 3. MR 1:58.8.

SECOND NIGHT

Despite drawing awkwardly out in the six gate in Heat 4, punters and bookmakers were expecting better things from Our Sir Vancelot NZ, especially with Desperate Comment NZ from the inside of the second row likely to find itself locked away. With Brabham NZ to start from the pole, the support for this Mark Purdon-trained Kiwi was solid, and at starting time there was little between Our Sir Vancelot NZ , Brabham NZ and Desperate Comment NZ. It was interesting to see the locally-owned Rainbow Knight down on the fifth line of betting, having fared nicely in barrier 4. There was good money late in betting for the local horse.

Brian Hancock drove Our Sir Vancelot NZ hard from its wide gate and was worked along by rivals until finally crossing to the inside pegs. In past years it could be said with bar-room certainty how Graeme Lang has enjoyed more success in major trotting races than he has as a reinsman in the Group 1 pacing events. But at Globe Derby that night he put Desperate Comment NZ into the race at the right time, then displaying cool confidence on the hometurn, allowed his horse to draw away from Late Bid NZ and Our Sir Vancelot NZ, with Rainbow Knight holding on for fourth.

With two wins from two starts, Desperate Comment NZ had cemented its place in the Grand Final -- its lifetime earnings just passing $1 million. Both Our Sir Vancelot NZ and Rainbow Knight had a legion of supporters going into the series, and while neither had been disgraced in their two races to date, each had a lot of pacing ahead if they were to stitch up a place in the Grand Final. Brabham NZ was again proving costly for backers on Australian soil.

Heat 4 - 2645m: Desperate Comment NZ (Graeme Lang), 1; Late Bid NZ (Ricky Thurlow), 2; Our Sir Vancelot NZ (Brian Hancock, 3. MR 1:59.4.

Iraklis NZ had come to Adelaide the most publicised Kiwi pacer since Cardigan Bay back in 1963. While having little luck with barrier draws, the horse really needed to put its hand up to be counted. In Heat 5 the big four-year-old would start from nine, alongside of first-round runner-up Sovereign Hill NZ with Norms Daughter in 11. The flood of money for Iraklis NZ had eased, with bookmakers for this heat rating him a 6/4 favourite, with Young Mister Charles NZ tipped to come right into calculations having now drawn the pole.

Defeats in Melbourne in the two Grand Circuit races that were followed by having its colours lowered in its Adelaide debut had taken some of the confidence out of those who had claimed Iraklis NZ to be the best horse to have come out of New Zealand in years. During the running of this heat with Ricky May searching for a clear run down the back straight the last time, it again seemed likely Iraklis NZ would have to settle for whatever points could be salvaged. But rounding the hometurn when Tibet was able to get past a tiring Young Mister Charles NZ and open up the field, May was able to have his horse muscle its way into the clear, where it sprinted fast, putting the race out of reach of Tibet USA and Elite Rena. Norms Daughter had galloped early, injuring a tendon. She would play no further part in this Inter Dominion. It was later reported the stable thought Young Mister Charles NZ was suffering from a virus.

Heat 5 - 2645m: Iraklis NZ (Ricky May), 1; Tibet USA (Ricky Thurlow), 2; Elite Rena (Brian Hancock), 3. MR 2:00.4

The Robert Cameron stable looked set to finish on a high note in Heat 6 with Anvils Star NZ to start from barrier 3, with Surprise Package NZ having the pole and Quantum Lobell gate 4. Island Glow USA was still having no luck in these barrier draws, having again drawn the second row. One of the fastest pacers out of the mobile in Australia is the Victorian speedster Lucky Camilla. Unfortunately for connections, at this level of competition, early speed was the only real attribute this horse carried into battle. When unable to lead, Lucky Camilla could usually be excluded from the chances. Now, having drawn gate 2, the Victorian pacer to have won an Inter Dominion heat the previous year in Perth, was expected to give a lot of early cheek.

With Brian Hancock trapped outside Lucky Camilla with Quantum Lobell, it was obvious a long way from home that Anvils Star NZ 'sweet-seating' would take a power of beating. When Anthony Butt moved off the back of Quantum Lobell, the New Zealand pacer ran home powerfully to gain maximum points over Quantum Lobell and Surprise Package NZ. For an A.G. Hunter Cup winner, Surprise Package NZ had been a little disappointing in this series. Perhaps because of its unsoundness problems, having to race every three days was not its cup of tea.

Heat 6 - 2645m: Anvils Star NZ (Anthony Butt), 1; Quantum Lobell (Brian Hancock), 2; Surprise Package NZ (Tony Herlihy), 3. MR 2.00.5.

THIRD NIGHT

The final round of Inter Dominion heats is always D-Day for some pacers on the borderline of making it through to the Grand Final the following week. The general opinion leading up to this third and last round of heats was that a score of 26 points would probably get you through. Already guaranteed inclusion were Desperate Comment NZ, whose two wins had given it the maximum 30 points, then followed three pacers with 27 points -- Robert Cameron's pair Iraklis NZ and Anvils Star NZ, along with Quantum Lobell. There were seven positions still to be filled for a start in the Grand Final. This night would be the last gasp for some of the hopefuls.

Heat 7 brought Desperate Comment NZ and Anvils Star NZ together in what promised to be one of the big clashes during these heats. In the rare form Lang had his horse in, barrier 10 seemed unlikely to prevent Desperate Comment NZ from going on its winning way, though Anvils Star NZ was proving to be ultra consistent, running on strongly in both of its races. Jay Jay Gee NZ had been a pleasant surprise in this series, with its effort to finish fifth to Anvils Star NZ three nights earlier after striking trouble during the race suggesting that from barrier 4 it would do even better. For trainer Peter Walsh, his two horses were hanging in there without having much luck go their way. In this heat Ricky Thurlow would drive Late Bid NZ.

There was an early sensation in the first of these last heats when Desperate Comment NZ was nowhere near the barrier when the field was despatched. Graeme Lang later claimed he had been puzzled by the starting procedure for this race, but not so stewards. They fined the Victorian horseman $100 for not having his horse up to the gate. After setting the pace, Jay Jay Gee NZ battled on until passed only by Late Bid NZ powering home ahead of the consistent Anvils Star NZ. Jay Jay Gee NZ’s third placing would assure Darren Binskin of his fourth drive in an Inter Dominion final.

Heat 7 - 2230m: Late Bid NZ (Ricky Thurlow), 1; Anvils Star NZ (Anthony Butt), 2; Jay Jay Gee NZ (Darren Binskin), 3. MR 2:01.

Brian Hancock with three starters in these preliminary rounds could not be too unhappy with barrier draws, and Quantum Lobell coming up with the pole in Heat 8 was surely a bonus for a horse that was usually fast to leave the gate. The imported Tibet USA had settled much better at his latest outing. From barrier 4, Walsh was in with a real chance of having two horses get through to the Grand Final. Drawn inside Tibet USA was Surprise Package NZ, who had not been knocked about in either of its earlier heats. Once again The Suleiman NZ was proving to be a little out of its depth in such illustrious company, though tough enough to actually seem to be enjoying the gruelling program.

As expected, Quantum Lobell came out hard and fast with Hancock then allowed to dictate his own terms up front. A last half mile in 56.8 seconds made it extremely difficult for those caught out the back. Tibet USA, from NSW, ran on well to give Thurlow another second in this last night of heats. With Surprise Package NZ finishing third, perhaps this Kiwi was on the way to becoming the 'quiet achiever" of the series.

Heat 8 - 2230m: Quantum Lobell (Brian Hancock), 1; Tibet USA (Ricky Thurlow), 2; Surprise Package NZ (Tony Herlihy), 3. MR 2:01.3.

The appearance of outstanding horses will always swell the crowd, and when the last of the heats would decide the last placings for the Grand Final, Heat 9 took on the look of a well prepared script, bringing together the two top fancies in the early betting on this Inter Dominion. At the only previous meeting between Iraklis NZ and Our Sir Vancelot NZ during the Melbourne summer carnival, the NSW horse had suffered interference costing it whatever chance it had of being in the finish. And now adding to their much awaited meeting was the inclusion in this heat of Rainbow Knight and the improving Sovereign Hill NZ -- both in with better than a bolter's chance despite their barrier draws. Iraklis NZ had drawn the coveted pole, while the outside barrier had done no favours for Our Sir Vancelot NZ.

Adding to the developing drama was that Our Sir Vancelot NZ needed to finish close up to gain the necessary points to ensure its place in the race Brian Hancock had set his cap for with this horse more than 12 months earlier. The brilliant Kiwi pacer had earned its place, but the Robert Cameron stable would be keen now to have Iraklis NZ stamp its authority over Hancock's horse. Drawing the inside of the second row probably meant that Lisa Justice would try and follow out Iraklis NZ, then hope to work their way off the pegs whenever possible.

After having an easy time in front, Iraklis NZ was travelling like a winner with Our Sir Vancelot NZ doing it tough. On the hometurn these two horses, eye-balling each other for the first time in a one-on-one contest, took centre stage to make their play, leaving their rivals in their wake. In the shadows of the post the horse on the outside got the better of Iraklis NZ, no doubt reviving earlier claims how the Kiwi performed better when driven from behind. But when later dissecting the race, the big four-year-old had not really been all that disappointing. Our Sir Vancelot NZ had been timed to have paced its last quarter in slightly better than 27 seconds. This time surprised even Hancock. "He should not have been able to win with the way the race was run," claimed the trainer. "He did go super," added Hancock.

Heat 9 - 2230m: Our Sir Vancelot NZ (Brian Hancock), 1; Iraklis NZ (Ricky May), 2; Rainbow Knight (Lisa Justice), 3. MR 2:00.1.

Harness racing has undergone monumental changes since the early years of the annual Inter Dominion Championships, with the obvious exceptions that readily come to mind being that pacers still have a leg in each corner, and Grand Final night of this prestigious carnival still remains a great spectacular event, the biggest night on the standardbred calendar. The excellent promotion of this carnival returned obvious dividends when a larger crowd attended to what were there for the previous Grand Final night at Globe Derby Park in 1990 -- and none would leave the course disappointed in the racing, the colour, and the theatre of it all.

The field for the big race in barrier order was: Quantum Lobell, Sovereign Hill NZ, Desperate Comment NZ, Tibet USA, Our Sir Vancelot NZ and Jay Jay Gee NZ on the front row. In barrier 7 was Anvils Star, then Rainbow Knight, Iraklis NZ, Late Bid NZ and Surprise Package NZ. After three rounds of heats, bookmakers were almost back where they were prior to opening night, believing the title was between Iraklis NZ and Our Sir Vancelot NZ. Having drawn the pole then added to the groundswell of support for Quantum Lobell, with Anvils Star NZ considered the most likely to pressure this trio.

Much has been written in the press about the second row barrier draws of Globe Derby Park being difficult to overcome. And no doubt many who had supported Iraklis NZ before and during the carnival would have groaned in frustration when the Kiwi drew barrier 9. However, in the host club's official program for Grand Final night there included a table of winning barriers at this track effective from July 1 the previous year. Over the 2645m distance of the Grand Final, the most successful alley of them all was surprisingly -- barrier 9. It had sent forth more winners over this distance than any other barrier, with next best being barrier 3.

Three trainers would go into the race with dual acceptors. Robert Cameron with Iraklis NZ and Anvils Star NZ , Brian Hancock had Quantum Lobell and Our Sir Vancelot NZ, with Peter Walsh starting Tibet USA and Late Bid NZ. With the strong State of Victoria having no representatives to have made it, the Vics had been quick to claim Desperate Comment NZ as their own. Under the rules of the Inter Dominion, this horse was still a Kiwi, though now trained in Victoria.

If Iraklis NZ had come far since returning to racing earlier in the season, so too had Quantum Lobell, going into the title bout the leading scorer of points from the heats. It seemed only a year or so before that Hancock had been racing this horse on country tracks. His astute placing of it without rushing it into the bigtime, now had the trainer speaking in glowing terms of the gelding's dazzling gate speed and its remarkable recuperative powers. Immediately after the barrier draw was announced there was a sudden rush of interest for Quantum Lobell drawn the coveted pole. It was then that Hancock announced he would drive its stablemate from barrier 5 and allow his step-son Mark Tracey to get up behind Quantum Lobell. The move sent pre-race discussions haywire. (Hancock at the previous Adelaide Inter Dominion Grand Final had started two horses, and chose the wrong one to drive, with stablehand Howard James winning the race on Thorate.)

When drivers in big races talk publicly state the tactics they plan to adopt, they do not always later put such plans into action. The shrewd big-race reinsman Brian Gath from Victoria has been known to stir the pot pre-race in several major events, claiming he would launch an attack for the lead with his horse at all costs. Then on race night he would set about doing just the opposite. So, when trainer-driver Darren Hancock (son of Brian's brother Richard) vowed to "hurl" Sovereign Hill NZ forward from barrier 2 so this horse would lead, it brought up yet another option into discussions on the likely leader in the race. "He does have great gate speed," explained the young Hancock. "And I am definitely going to have a shot at the front, as I have nothing to lose," he added.

Desperate Comment NZ was not known as a leader, and Robert Cameron's pair Iraklis NZ and Anvils Star NZ from the second row would have to play it by ear. Cameron reported how both horses had come through the series in splendid condition. Of course, Our Sir Vancelot NZ could not be ruled out as a possible leader even though in the heats his early speed from the barrier had been nothing to be excited about. But one should always expect the unexpected from its trainer-driver, and making a bid to lead from barrier 5 was possible. When interviewed, Brian Hancock claimed he could not separate his two horses, with both having good chances. "I could not be happier with my two, and I just hope it will be a cleanly run race. There's about six or seven horses that could win it, so the club could not have planned it better."

It was true Our Sir Vancelot NZ had not displayed extreme speed from the gate in its heats. But when the Grand Final field was sent on its way, it was Our Sir Vancelot NZ that exploded out faster than any of its rivals, with Hancock hell-bent on crossing to be on the pegs into the first turn. Had he taken too much out of his horse in his desperate throw of the dice to lead? Interestingly, more than one trotting writer would later claim he had purposely hidden the fact this horse could muster so much early speed. After a brief challenge mid-race, Our Sir Vancelot NZ appeared to be doing it sweetly approaching the hometurn the last time. It was here that Hancock showed his supreme faith in his horse by deciding to pull out all stops and make a dash for home. It was a decision that almost brought 12 months of carefully laid plans unstuck.

Our Sir Vancelot NZ dashed away with a huge lead turning for home with the winning post a mere 148 metres away. While Iraklis NZ was then putting in its claim and kept grinding away like time, Lisa Justice was having all kinds of bother getting Rainbow Knight clear of the pack. Had the opening appeared 10 or so metres earlier, the record books would have had a different horse winning the 1997 Inter Dominion. The run she had so desperately wanted came only after Hancock had all but waved goodbye to his rivals. Once clear, Rainbow Knight switched into overdrive, eating up ground at a spectacular rate. Up front Our Sir Vancelot NZ was preparing to down tools having given its all at both ends of the race. As its speed suddenly slowed close to the post, it made the finishing effort of the Adelaide-owned horse all the more spectacular.

It was close to the post that elegance and desperation came together -- Hancock not panicking, but striving to coax just one final effort from his horse. Lisa Justice, knowing an Inter Dominion title was only metres away, desperate to have her horse achieve a lifetime dream. On the line Rainbow Knight had turned what moments before had looked like a comfortable victory to NSW, into a close photo-finish. Until the numbers were semaphored, only those watching from right on the line knew that Brian Hancock had hung on to win his fourth Inter Dominion -- three as a driver, the other as a trainer.

Among the many visiting journalists there that night was Melbourne's Neale Donnelley, who earlier in the season had been among the critics of Adelaide hosting this event. Donnelley has been covering these carnivals for almost 20 years, seeing the champs come and go. The story he penned after that meeting became all the more noteworthy considering his earlier expectations: "Last Saturday evening at Globe Derby Park was a special night. Measuring the success of any harness racing event is often judged by the quality of the activities on the track. It is also, and quite correctly, judged on what happens off the track through attendance figures and betting turnover. Last Saturday night in Adelaide had the lot -- there was nothing missing. Often when presentations are conducted, the punters head back into the betting rings and bars. Not so this time. They stayed and listened to Hancock talk about his long association with the Allamby family who part-own these horses with him. Yes, this was a night to remember. A night when South Australia put on a show for all the world to see."

If these feelings were very much those of the majority, they did not speak for everyone. After the dust had settled on a glorious carnival, National Trotting Weekly's front page story carried the headline: "Fix the Inter!" Former Western Australia Trotting Association president Mick Lombardo, Australia's largest breeder-owner, delivered a verbal broadside at State officials who, with NZ representation, made up the Inter Dominion Harness Racing Council. His criticism was -- "for allowing the Inter Dominion Championship to lose its status." He urged officials to move quickly in restoring the credibility of the carnival by aiming for a $1 million final as soon as possible. "Thoroughbred races have $1 million races all over the place. Yet our showpiece, which now attracts international interest, can muster only $400,000." Lombardo said what worried him most was this situation did not look like changing. The former State president urged officials to adopt a policy of giving the carnival each year to the club which offered to provide the most stakemoney.

Our Sir Vancelot NZ had gone into the Adelaide Inter Dominion leading Desperate Comment NZ by just one on the Grand Circuit point score. The five points for a win had now given Hancock his first Grand Circuit champion. He had won races as a catch-driver behind two earlier champions -- Koala King in 1979, and Gammalite, that won a record three successive series from 1982. (Westburn Grant would later equal Gammalite's record winning three in a row from 1990.) Hancock, as a conditioner of horses has been known to have had them outrun their pedigree, had educated, trained and driven his latest stable star to be our new Grand Circuit champion. With one final leg of the current circuit to be held at Harold Park in April, it was not possible for either Desperate Comment NZ or Rainbow Knight to displace the son of Vance Hanover at the top of the points.