Kylie Sugars hasn’t been blessed with an abundance of metropolitan grade horses over the years so it’s no surprise she’s loving the ride with progressive trotter Sammy Showdown.

The in-form squaregaiter will be out to make it five wins in succession this Friday night at Tabcorp Park Melton and his fourth in-a-row since returning to the track from injury.

It’s an exciting time for Sugars, who was given the horse to train by owner-breeder Graeme Rayner after his initial five starts for Jeremy Quinlan.

The Myrniong-based Sugars rates Sammy Showdown better than Lord Monaloo, who won the Group 3 Tabcorp Park Cup during his time with the stable.

“This horse I think is by far and away the best that I’ve ever had the pleasure of training and I’m very lucky that every time he steps out - even though I’m very confident in his capabilities - I’m amazed at what he can do,” Sugars said.

“I don’t have many Melton horses, I’m usually running around in the country. So for me to front up week in, week out at Melton with a horse like him is very unusual, a bit of a treat and a bit special.”

Sammy Showdown suffered a set-back during his three-year-old season and was forced off the track for around six months during the middle part of 2019.

He returned with a dominant win at Melton on November 30 and scored twice again during December to take his career record to six victories from 16 outings.

“He hurt a tendon in a hind leg and we believe that he did it in his yard. He kicked a rail or something like that,” Sugars said.

“It was unfortunate timing as all the big races were about to come up, the Vicbred and things like that. But these things happen - it might have been a blessing in disguise because he had a very good break, grew and developed and has come back better this time in.

“This is the best he has ever looked. He is nice and round and strong, handling the workload very good and handling the rigours of racing very well. He picked up where he left off and has improved on that from last time.”

Sammy Showdown will have perhaps his biggest test to date when he lines up in the Allied Express Trot (1720m, NR 70-85).

The son of Bacardi Lindy has drawn barrier one for the sprint, where he will take on the likes of Andy Gath-trained Majestuoso, David Murphy’s Variance and Chris Svanosio’s Anywhere Hugo.

Majestuoso and Anywhere Hugo are both first-up from breaks, while Variance is a last-start winner at the track.

After winning the opening two heats of the Mercury80, the Emma Stewart camp won’t be represented in Friday night’s third instalment.

Tasmanian Call Me Hector will start favourite in the event despite a down-the-track finish in the Cobram Pacing Cup on Sunday.

He is trained by Matthew Cooper and will be driven by Justin Campbell.

The last of the 1200m Mercury80 heats is run on January 17 before the $50,000 final - for the eight qualifiers - on January 25.

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR TIM O'CONNOR'S CHAT WITH KYLIE SUGARS: