KEY POINTS:
Back in October, Stig produced one of the greatest comebacks by a New Zealand trotter.
He is ready to do that again.
The staying superstar returns to the track in the $75,000 United Fisheries Trot at Addington tomorrow, facing a second line draw over an unsuitable 1950m.
But
before you consider betting against the big trotting hero, consider what happened at Addington on October 10.
Stig went into the 3200m Canterbury Park Trotting Cup that night having not raced for 11 months after an injury which threatened to end his career.
And without as much as a trial, he destroyed many of the best trotters in the South Island to win easily.
This win set him up to dominate the big trot races of the spring.
Trainer Paul Nairn says Stig isn't as fit as he was that night when he resumes tomorrow afternoon - he is fitter.
"He would be better now than we was back in October," confirmed Nairn.
"Back then he was ready to go but he had been away from racing for a long time.
"But this time he is coming off a far better fitness base."
While Stig has not been to the trials since winning the Dominion Handicap in November, Nairn says that is not a concern.
"He got a bit fat at Christmas when I was over on the West Coast but we have a good galloping pacemaker at home so I have been able to give him some good hard workouts since," he said.
"He is ready to win but it won't be easy because it could be a tricky race."
While Stig is most feared a stayer and is seen at his best in gruelling contests, it should not be forgotten he won the Harness Jewels over a mile (1650 metres) as a 4-year-old.
And he was crushing when steamrolling his rivals in the Flying Mile at Ashburton this season.
He is good enough to make his own luck tomorrow but would not want to get trapped behind struggling rivals in the three-wide line at a crucial stage.
He could be aided by the fact his biggest rivals tomorrow are also drawn on the second line.
This season's northern star Sovereignty faces two on the second line, although behind a good beginner in Springbank Richard, while the in-form King Charlie is worse off on the inside of the second line.
Sovereignty was outstanding over the summer, with a standing-start gallop last start his only blemish.
He will love being back behind the mobile tomorrow and can win if he settles in front of Stig.
King Charlie has been beating the weak southern open class second-stringers but has been doing it with some authority.
Tomorrow is his biggest test, though, and he will need a lot to go right to win.
Look for improvement from Springbank Richard, who while he may not as scary as he was when rising through the grades last year, could find his way to the lead and be hard to run down over the sprint trip.
