Addington on its biggest day, with a winning chance in a group one - Todd Mitchell feels he is back where he belongs.
The Waikato reinsman partners Cyclone Prince in tomorrow's $180,000 Sires' Stakes Final and all he needs is a little luck to add another chapter to his scarcelybelievable Addington story.
How a guy who has rarely been the No 1 driver for a major stable won four New Zealand Cups in six years defies logic, as, too, does Mitchell's comeback from a potentially career-ending disqualification last season.
He lost both his training and driving licences after some sloppy feeding practices resulted in high bicarbonate readings which saw him spend nine months on the sidelines.
But since returning to the sulky in February he has again demonstrated that rarest of racing abilities - to get horses to produce their best.
That helped him win a group one with Cyclone Prince at Alexandra Park in March and he can't hide his excitement about a chance to repeat that tomorrow.
"Addington on Cup Day is something special and while I don't have a Cup drive the Sires' Stakes is the next best thing," says Mitchell.
Cyclone Prince, part-owned by New Zealand cricketers Brendon McCullum and Kyle Mills, has the ace draw and if he can hold the lead or trail he is the horse to beat.
"That is the tricky part, trying to stay handy without burning too much gas because there will be pressure on later for sure," says Mitchell.
"But he is good enough to win and worst-case scenario if we end up three deep on the markers the passing lane at Addington is usually big enough for two horses."
Cyclone Prince could start favourite in the group one even though race rival Alleluia has been heavily plunged from $11 into $4 with the TAB.
But regardless Mitchell has something to celebrate. He recently because a grandfather, at the ripe old age of 42.
"I must be one of the youngest grandfathers in the country," he jokes.
