Big Show’ returns for Kylie Sugars

The show must go on for trainer-driver Kylie Sugars, whose star trotter came from the clouds this season and returns from a brief spell to contest the last race of tonight’s Tabcorp Park program.

The rise and rise of Sammy Showdown has been one of the stories of the season, with Sugars, who co-leases the Baccardi Lindy gelding with his owner-breeder Graeme Rayner, guiding the trotter from a moderately rated, lightly raced four-year-old to a Group 1 threat.

“He returned in November at the end of last year after five and a half months away due to injury and if you had told me then that by the first week of March he would have competed in two Group 1 races and only just gotten beaten in both of them I would have said ‘you are insane’,” Sugars told Trots Talk.

“But every challenge that’s been thrown at him he just keep stepping up, he gives you everything, he leaves nothing in the tank and he answers every call.

“He’s done a phenomenal job really from where he was in November, a 54 rater, to stepping up into free-for-all country. He’s only four years old, he’s relatively lightly raced and his acceleration to fast class has been very quick.”

That emergence continues at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight, when Sammy Showdown contests the Aldebaran Park Trot, the last on the program that streams on Trots Vision at 9.37pm.

It’s his first start since running third behind Big Jack Hammer and Red Hot Tooth in Menangle’s Aquagait Trotters Mile, which came on the heels of a fourth placing behind Tornado Valley, Wobelee and Temporale in Aldebaran Park The Knight Pistol. Beaten only 1.1 and 6 metres respectively, it’s quite extraordinary company he’s keeping.

“It was a huge thrill, huge buzz,” Sugars said. “All those horses that competed in those Group 1 races have been going around in those races for last two or three seasons and he’s a Johnny come lately.

“I can go into those races confident that whatever happens he’ll gives his best, and I’m very lucky sitting behind him because he always does – no matter what happens he goes down fighting.”

She’s optimistic those traits will again be on show tonight, when Sammy Showdown starts from gate four and is likely to start short in the market amid the open class field.

“A small field, but a small field of very consistent horses,” Sugars said. “Scruffy Doolan has really hit its straps the last two starts, I Am Pegasus has got very good, solid form from the Breed For Speed Series against her own sex over a mile. She’s hugely talented.

“And Savannah Jay Jay has been going around in free-for-all company for a number of seasons and he’s a very good sit-sprinter.

“A small but select field of horses who are always thereabouts and capable of running a good race. (Sammy Showdown) is going to have to begin quite well if we want to get to the front, but if we have to sit outside them then so be it.

“He’s picked up right where he left off, so I thought we’ll head back to the races and see what happens.”

It’s not only been a breakout for Sammy Showdown but also one of sorts for Sugars. This season marks her 20th in the sulky, having competed every year since her 1999-2000 debut.

But while Sugars has had her least amount of driving starts (37) so far this season since 2007-08, she has remarkably enjoyed her greatest amount of stakes won ($71,405) since 2005-06, with five of her six winners being Sammy Showdown (the other was Horratio).

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden will guide listeners through the wins, near-misses and opportunities of tonight's Tabcorp Park card with Talking Trots on Track from 6-10pm.

Aired on SEN 1116AM and 1377AM in Melbourne, 657AM in Perth and 1575AM in Wollongong, you can also click here to listen live online and for links to download the SEN app.