Racing: McCaffrey happy with star

Sovereignty appears a class above his rivals tonight. Photo / Alan Gibson

Sean McCaffrey knows exactly what Sovereignty is capable of doing to his rivals at Alexandra Park tonight.

"I think everybody knows he would wipe the floor with them if he was ready," says the Cambridge trainer.

Which leaves only one question heading into the fifth leg of tonight's Pick6 which will double as Sovereignty's comeback race: Is the one-time Trotter of the Year ready?

That is a question McCaffrey can not answer confidently as the 6-year-old hasn't raced since Christmas last year, when his career was derailed by mystery soreness.

"To be honest, he probably should have been going to the trials or workouts this week," said McCaffrey.

"But there were none suitable, so it was either race this week or sit around twiddling our thumbs."

Tonight's race got the nod after Sovereignty worked brilliantly in private on Saturday morning and again this week.

"I think he is as right as we can get him without a trial, which would have just given us a bit more confidence.

"But he is ready to go a big race, it just depends how it all pans out."

At first glance, Sovereignty's 40m handicap doesn't look attractive but it is effectively only 30m as there is only one horse off the front.

And with several rivals off 30m, Sovereignty should get carted into the race, which McCaffrey says is crucial.

"He is not ready to take off around them in the middle stages but he can win with the right run."

McCaffrey still has no definitive idea of what caused the soreness that ruined Sovereignty's season but the gelding hasn't taken a sore step in a month and confidence is high he can return to his best.

So much so a winning performance in the next two weeks could see him head to Addington for a hit-and-run mission on the Dominion Handicap on November 12.

He meets an old foe in Real Deal Yankee tonight and he looks the toughest to beat, with fellow Cambridge trotter Springfield Hero sure to be an improver on a fast-finishing second last Saturday.

Sovereignty's driver Maurice McKendry holds the key to tonight's main pace as well, with Percy The Punter on trial for the New Zealand Cup in race seven.

Percy The Punter has run on strongly in both starts this campaign and providing tonight's race doesn't become a farcically tactical one - as small fields can do at Alexandra Park - he should win.

He faces a 20m handicap but if he is going to be a realistic New Zealand Cup hope he would need to win this, especially as main rival Aslan is racing at a distance further than his best.

As has been the case at Alexandra Park in recent months, the lower-grade racing is crammed with talented 3-year-olds, none more so than The Hayne Train, who will start favourite in race one.

He cost punters plenty with two defeats to start to his career but won well last start and has developed the gate speed to try for an all-the-way win tonight.

Another intriguing contest will be race five in which in-form mares Mo Cullen, Three Js and Gotta Go Harmony take on exciting three-year-old Gold Ace, which will be the latter's final lead-up race to the Sires' Stakes final.


WEEKEND WINNERS
* The best: Percy The Punter (R7, No.5): New Zealand Cup beckons so needs to win this. Should be good enough to work and still win.

* Improver: The Hayne Train (R1. No.1): Being driven aggressively now, which suits the big dummy. Stamina should win him the first.

* Unlucky: The One (R3, No.7): Sat parked in good field last start and looked a next-up winner.

* Downgrading: Courage On Fire (R4, No.6): Run down in far stronger field last start. This a lot easier.