It's the uncanny resemblance Gratz Vella believes could deliver him back-to-back Black Opal Stakes.
A year after You're Canny upstaged red-hot favourite Karuta Queen in the $250,000 two-year-old classic, the veteran Canberra trainer rates Fair Call as his next potential juvenile champion.
Vella will get a true indication of Fair Call's progression in a two-year-old handicap (1000m) at Thoroughbred Park today.
Victory against the seven-strong field will convince Vella and the gelding's owners to take a punt on the 1200m showpiece on March 11.
Fair Call has had only one start, but did enough in a classy win at Queanbeyan over 900m on January 14 to show he's on track to emulate You're Canny's remarkable upset.
''Every time I've asked him to go to the next gear, he goes there,'' Vella said.
''He's got the same traits as when I won the Black Opal last year with You're Canny. He's tough enough and when you ask them to go to the next step they do it, it's bizarre.
''If he gets through tomorrow then it's on to the Black Opal Stakes.''
All going to plan, Vella will chase successive Black Opal Stakes after breaking a 30-year drought last year.
He went close three times since entering his first starter in 1981 before You're Canny delivered one of the great upsets in the race's prestigious history.
You're Canny defied a horror barrier draw to overhaul Karuta Queen, the previously unbeaten superstar who had amassed more than $1.4million in prizemoney and was a $1.20 chance with bookies.
Karuta Queen has gone on to win the Australia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley while also finishing runner-up in the three-year-old sprint on Melbourne Cup Day.
The unpredictable nature of two-year-old's has Vella wary of delivering any outrageous statements about his young protege.
''Two year olds are very hard, you've either got them or haven't got them,'' he said.
''All I know is my horse is stepping up in grade. If he goes well tomorrow, then the next stage will be the Black Opal.''
Jockey Grant Buckley rode Fair Call in his barrier trial but was unavailable for the Queanbeyan ride.
The Black Opal Stakes is one of four listed races to be contested at Canberra's marquee race meeting, including the $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m), the National Sprint (1400m) and the Canberra Guineas (1400m), both worth $100,000 each.
It's a smorgasbord of lucrative events Canberra Racing Club chief executive Peter Stubbs believes will attract a host of metropolitan trainers.
''Having our two big races, the Black Opal and the Cup, on the one day should bring in some great fields,'' Stubbs said.
The highlight of today's seven-race card is the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m), with last-start winner Tanya Jean among the leading chances.
Racing at Thoroughbred Park from 1.08pm.
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