KEY POINTS:
Don't be fooled into thinking Tuffery is simply a grass track specialist.
That is the advice from trainer Gareth Dixon as he chases yet another win at Avondale today with the star of the northern grass track circuit.
Tuffery dominated the cups races on the grass track circuit, winning two, being relegated from first in another and being unlucky in his only other outing.
After struggling to win at Alexandra Park before heading to the grass it would be easy for punters to consider him a grass tracker, which in harness racing is usually a nice way of saying a horse is really a bit of a battler.
Dixon says that isn't the case with Tuffery.
"I don't think it is so much the grass which has turned him around as the pull-down blinds I have added to his gear," he explains.
"He has always been a horse who has been better following the speed but sometimes he hasn't come out and shown just how well he can sprint.
"But since we added the blinds he really sprints when we ask him to go so they have helped him live up to his true potential."
Dixon believes that can continue in today's feature race on the one day of the season harness racing comes to Avondale.
Tuffery faces a huge 40m handicap but his trainer says he has the right skills to overcome it.
"He is a very good beginner from a standing start, which at least gives him a chance to make some ground up early.
"And the way he is racing he is right at the top of his game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him win again."
If he is right then life gets a lot harder for Tuffery, who would face a return to Alexandra Park as a seven-win horse, which means eventually having to tackle the top horses.
"I realise it won't be easy for him but his main aim back at the Park would be the Country Cups Championships and then maybe races like the Thames and Winter Cups.
"But who knows, the way he has improved lately, he might get his chance against the better pacers."
Dixon takes a small but handy team to Avondale today, with Star Of Heaven (race three) and La Dim inkle (race four) also rated chances.
"They are both working like horses who could win with a bit if luck."
That opinion is worth following as Dixon has been in outstanding form this year and admits to being full of confidence.
"I have two really good 3-year-olds in Ebony Gem and St Barts and my juveniles are trialling well," Dixon said.
"So we have some smart horses to go with."
Those sort of results are coming at the perfect time too, with the young training star working overtime inspecting yearlings for the standard bred sales which start in two weeks.
Last season Dixon and his owners spent up large and he says he will be back again later this month.
"I have some buyers who are keen and the standard of yearlings is very high so I am looking forward to sales week."
One of the big dangers today is Cruzee Lass who finished second to Tuffery last time and is expected to be a chance.
In form
* Tuffery has won his last two grass track cup races.
* He will be favourite to make it three on end at Avondale today.
* His trainer says the big pacer is more than just a grass track specialist.
* Today's meeting is the only harness racing one of the season at Avondale.
