Racing: Sensational Stig breaks record

Stig, driven by David Butt, easily won the Swiss Deli Handicap Trot at Alexandra Park last night. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

It wasn't the richest win of Stig's career but it was one of the most satisfying.

That was how trainer Paul Nairn summed up his champion trotter's national record demolition job at Alexandra Park last night.

In his first start on a right-handed track, Stig crushed our greatest trotting mare One Over Kenny and erased the record times for 2700m standing start from the books.

And when you consider those records were held by Lyell Creek (male) and Pride Of Petite (female) you get some understanding of how special Stig's performance was.

Last away from his 40m handicap, he had to play catch up as One Over Kenny was sent forward on a relentless quest for the lead.

Once she got there, Stig came around to eyeball her from the 1200m mark and two wonderful square gaiters proceeded to give us the first great race of Cup Week.

Stig wore the mare down and had her beaten at the 400m but rather than tire himself he raced five lengths clear of Rowe Cup winner Our Sunny Whiz in a scintillating 3:24.6.

To beat such opponents first-up on a track that has tested so many southern challengers before was a brutal thing of beauty.

Trainer Nairn had gone into the race unsure what to expect, especially after Stig's shock defeat at Addington eight nights earlier.

"To have him come up and do that is one of the most satisfying wins I have ever had," said the master trainer of trotters.

"That seals the trip back here for the Rowe Cup [May 1]."

Driver David Butt was full of praise for Nairn and his ability to win two races last night, the other with Red, with horses who had hardly seen Alexandra Park before.

"He trotted as good this way, if not better, than he does down home," said Butt. "He felt great and when Tony [Herlihy, One Over Kenny] wanted to go hard I think that suited us even better.

"He is a horse who doesn't get tired very easily," he said in typical Butt understatement.

The win ended any possible argument over who is the best trotter in the country, even though One Over Kenny may be slightly tired after her recent Interdominion trip.

Considering he will be off the front in the $300,000 Rowe Cup, the race is now Stig's to lose.

Earlier in the night, Five Star Anvil got quaddie betting in New Zealand off to a rocky start when he upset in the $50,000 Sales Series Pace at 23-1.