Racing: Surprising Sonstar can keep winning

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Six months ago it was hard to believe Sonstar could win any race at Alexandra Park - let alone a $20,000 final in which he started off a 30m handicap.

Midway through last season Sonstar was little more than a grass track battler who looked out of place in the big city.

But the gelding has benefited from a change of training programme and became the most surprising open class graduate in recent times with a stunning win at Cambridge last start.

So impressive was the victory driver Todd Mitchell - himself sceptical about Sonstar's future not that long ago - rates him the horse to beat in tonight first leg of Pick Six.

"He trotted super last start and is a different horse to what he was," said New Zealand Cup-winning driver Mitchell.

"Even though he is off 30m this week I still think he can win because the front line horses aren't overly strong and I am not sure whether Kipper Dee can give us a 15m start and beat us."

Sonstar beat several of his rivals tonight at Cambridge last start after being under a stranglehold for the last lap and would only need to perform as well to go close again tonight.

Against him will be the bigger field, meaning he is likely to settle further back from his handicap than when he had just seven rivals at Cambridge.

Even off 45m Kipper Dee must rate a chance tonight as he looked anything but an 11-year-old when bolting in against similar opposition last week, a win for which he has been penalised only five metres.

The enigma of the race is Blane, whose talent is not in doubt but he has only battled in his last two outing. At his peak he could win.