KEY POINTS:
Trainer Paul Nairn says a new set of shoes could save punters tens of thousands of dollars at Addington today.
Because that could be the difference between winning and losing for hotshot trotter Stig in the $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All.
Stig cost punters a fortune at Kaikoura last week when he trotted his worst race in 18 months, not handling the track and struggling to keep up.
That was a far cry from a week earlier at Ashburton when he looked a potential champion winning the Flying Mile.
If the same Stig who turned up that day reappears at Addington today the group one race will be his and Nairn is hoping a new set of shoes brings about that change.
"He always trots best just after he has been re-shod," said Nairn.
"I put new shoes on him yesterday [Wednesday] and they might help."
Nairn was left perplexed by the Kaikoura performance and even ordered a veterinary examination to confirm the Stig was not suffering from the leg problems that ruled him out of most of last season.
"He was fine, though, and I think physically he is as good as he can be. He is working as well now as he was before his Ashburton win."
While punters may have some concerns after his Kaikoura debacle, TAB bookmakers do not, opening him a $1.50 favourite from barrier five.
There is plenty of speed inside him but that should ensure a solid tempo to suit the giant trotter's hands.
While many will anchor him in Pick6 and fixed odds multi-bets, they would be wise to at least save on Mountbatten and Idid It Myway.
Mountbatten has only been average by his standards this season but has worked well lately and has the gate speed to use barrier one.
Idid It Myway could well be the fastest trotter in New Zealand over 200m, as he showed when overcoming a 10m handicap to win the Kaikoura race Stig failed in.
He has drawn the outside of the front line which will mean he needs the right sort of tempo to have a realistic winning chance. If they go hard in the middle stages, look for him to be booming home late.
BIG TROT
* Stig is a hot favourite for the $100,000 Trotting Free-For-All.
* Trainer Paul Nairn is confident the big trotter will return to his best today.
* Mountbatten and Idid It Myway look the big threats.
