KEY POINTS:
A few weeks ago John Hay was wondering how he managed to stuff things up so badly.
Hay had started the season with the best 4-year-old trotter in the country, Houdini Star, and the perfect new race to aim him at - his section of the $100,000 Harness Jewels.
Houdini Star, who dominated the 3-year-old ranks on both sides of the Tasman last season, started his campaign with two impressive victories and by the time the first Jewels markets came out in March he was the $2.50 favourite.
Things couldn't have been better, which in racing often means a disaster is just around the corner.
In Hay's case it wasn't a disaster, but it was close.
The Ashburton trainer-driver decided to bypass the serious open class races with Houdini Star to set him exclusively for Saturday's inaugural Jewels race.
But Houdini Star struggled for fitness, which makes winning any sort of money near impossible in open class.
So just two weeks ago Houdini Star had slipped to 12th, the last qualifying spot to get into the stakes-based race, and had to at least place in an open class race at Addington to be guaranteed a spot.
"It was my fault," admitted Hay. "I let him get away on me a bit and at that level you can't do that.
"He just got too fat and before we knew it we had to get some money just before the cut-off date."
Hay even took the drastic action of nominating Houdini Star for a poor race at Oamaru to try and eke any money he could out of him before the Harness Jewels stake deadline.
But he never made it to Oamaru. Instead he thrashed some of the best trotters in the country at Addington two days earlier.
"I knew before he went there we were going to be fine because his work was great. It was just a matter of getting him really fit again."
Hay says Houdini Star was a victim of winning his first two races of the season too easily, meaning he never had a proper grounding for the rigours of open class.
He was forced to step up his workload a month ago and the free-going son of Sundon responded.
His Addington win, coupled with the ace barrier draw on Saturday, has seen him close back into $1.80 favouritism after getting as long as $4.50 in the market.
His chances have been aided further by arch-rival Galleons Assassin drawing the second line, along with the talented Awesome Imace.
That still leaves Smart Seeker close to Houdini Star on the front line but Hay says his days of worrying with Houdini Star are gone.
"I am sure we can lead from the ace because he has never been beaten off the gate before in his life," he says."And after the way he worked this week I couldn't be happier.
"I was going to take him to the trials but I didn't need to. His work has been unreal and I've never had him better."
Hay, who lives just eight minutes drive from the Ashburton track, says if the last few weeks of fine weather continues until Saturday then records could be broken.
"I am sure this fella could trot 1:56 if he has too. He trotted 1:58 last year and could have gone a lot faster."
Hay also has a vote of confidence in the new passing lane put in because of this series.
"It is one of the better passing lanes around because it doesn't start until well into the home straight so while it will make sure the trailer gets a go the swoopers will have the momentum up."
