A stone bruise is very much behind Quick As A Trick as he seeks his second Waikouaiti Cup tomorrow.
The tough 5yr-old pulled up lame last Saturday morning, ruling him out of the group 3 Invercargill Cup later that day.
"It appeared on Saturday morning and he was that sore, you could tell it was ready to burst,'' trainer Tony Barron said.
The bruise was treated to speed up the process and the plan paid off.
"It burst out on Monday and he hasn't missed any work. He had Sunday off, and jogged Monday. He hasn't missed a day of hobbled work, so I'm very happy with him.''
The son of Lis Mara has been one of the stars of the summer, beating Mossdale Conner in the Green Mile at Methven in early December, then finished third at Forbury Park 10 days later.
Quick As A Trick has been with Barron since the Forbury Park run and provided junior driver Jessica Young with her first group win when he claimed the Central Otago Trotting Club on January 2. However Young will miss tomorrow's 3200m cup due to suspension.
"It couldn't have come at a worse time for Jess,'' Barron said.
"I do tell everyone Jessica Young is the best grass-track driver in the country - her record is just unbelievable. Mind you, she's about 40kg wringing wet - they don't know she's behind them.''
Barron should not lose much in the driving department, though.
Champion reinsman Dexter Dunn will jump in the sulky behind Quick As A Trick for his title defence.
Quick As A Trick went to the Wyndham trials on January 20 to satisfy stewards about his standing-start manners which, in hindsight, was helpful after the missed Invercargill Cup run.
"Omakau [on January 2] was a very good run and unfortunately, apart from a quiet trial, he hasn't been anywhere else,'' Barron said.
"We're just lucky he hasn't missed any work. He loves the grass, so fingers crossed. Everything points to him going good, particularly his work. And he's got a good horse's record - 44 starts for 10 wins.''
Barron nominated Tas Man Bromac as the one to beat, although he was surprised by the Nathan Williamson-trained pacer's average fifth in the Invercargill Cup.
"Obviously, Nathan thinks he was short, otherwise he wouldn't be backing up him over two miles again, but he'll be the one to beat.''
"But this fella has beaten some good horses. He's won on the grass, he won over the distance, he's a very good stayer and he loves that track.''
Quick As A Trick is Barron's only runner at Waikouaiti and he will stay home to prepare his team for Wyndham on Monday.
Barron said This Excuse Is Fine (race 9) was a maiden who was "just starting to cotton on to it now'', and he was happy with Delightful Dash and Regal Ideal who take on the in-form All Jokes Aside in race 8.
"They've really come back to it. I expect them to be in the first four.''
Barron produced Terracotta to win the non-tote 2yr-old fillies race at Winton yesterday, to provide emerging sire Big Jim with his first New Zealand winner, while Jimmie will make his much-awaited debut in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton today.
