Ken Barron has a warning for punters chasing the $125,000 Pick6 at Alexandra Park tonight.
While Barron's talented juvenile Major Obsession is the form runner in the final leg of the jackpot, the Canterbury trainer says it may not be that clearcut.
The 2-year-old pacers meet in the second legof the Young Guns series and after pushing Major Mark so close in the opener, Major Obsession would be viewed by some as a potential anchor tonight.
However, Barron said his other runner, Thumpen, had been the big improver since that first heat and the gap between the pair had now closed.
"Before they started racing I said I would stick with Major Obsession because I thought he was the better," said Barron.
"But the other little horse, Thumpen, has improved even more than Major Obsession since that first race.
"I still think Major might be better but the gap has really closed and I wouldn't be surprised if Thumpen won this week."
That could be enough to convince some punters to include both in their final leg of Pick6, along with the impressive Mark Purdon trialist from last week, Ohoka's Bondy.
Barron has had a great month since coming north and rates Makarewa Sun a huge chance in the open class trot (race nine) tonight.
He went down by only a nose to Sovereignty off level marks in a mobile race last week but meets that rival 20m better off tonight.
"And I think I would have beaten him last week had I got a clearer run earlier," said Barron.
"This horse is only just coming back to his best form of a year ago and if he keeps improving the way he has then I am not scared of these horses, even though there are some smart ones in here.
"He is good enough to win this week and the handicaps say he can."
Good enough to win but facing a tough test is Barron's stable star Georgetown, who for the second week running has a poor draw in the open class free-for-all pace.
He has been luckless in his two starts this northern campaign and faces that prospect again tonight, drawn behind an outsider in Chesterton in the 2200m mobile.
"But he was very good last week," says Barron, "and just needs some speed on because he is racing well."
