KEY POINTS:
The best indicator of Stig's chance at Addington tonight is that trainer Paul Nairn wants to scratch him.
The talented trotter will be a warm favourite for race six but Nairn is hoping to pull him out of that race should he be promoted off the ballot for the night's feature, the $30,000 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup.
While that race contains established group one winners like Pompallier and Whatsundermykilt they face 20m handicaps, whereas Stig would be off the front line should he get into the field.
And he has the ability to make the most of that, looking a potential superstar at a time when the trotting ranks are thin on true talent.
Just last February, Stig was a rough-going maiden yet improved so dramatically he took out his division of the Harness Jewels and won four-year-old trotter of the year.
He returned to racing with a solid second at Addington last Friday and will strip a fitter horse tonight.
"He will have taken a great deal of benefit from that race last week," says the ultra-conservative Nairn.
"I would love to get him into the big trot because I think he would go close and the 3200m will suit him.
"But if he has to start in the other race then I think he will be hard to beat in that too."
Nairn says while Stig is a stronger trotter than last season, he expects him to keep developing.
"He is still only young and very inexperienced for a trotter.
"He may never be the smoothest trotter but he has the ability to make up for that."
If Stig doesn't get into the main race tonight, it will present a tricky test for punters as the field lacks many in-form runners who could work and still be a factor over 3200m.
Regardless of which race Stig contests tonight, Nairn rates Day Of Reckoning in race three his best winning chance.
The mare returned to racing with a close second to high-class trotter Mountbatten last Friday and meets a far weaker field tonight.
"I was very happy with her last week and she has improved from last season," said Nairn.
Day Of Reckoning faces a 10m handicap tonight but she has great manners and the small field suits.
