The trotter with the fragile feet and the driver with the dodgy back will hope this carnival delivers the most glorious peak of their seven-year injury riddled rollercoaster ride.

Reinsman Neil McCallum returned to the sulky in August after a horror car crash sidelined him for four months, having suffered a broken vertebra and two broken bones.

But he had to wait until late December to get his hands back on Savannah Jay Jay, the gifted trotter who he will partner in tonight’s Group 2 E B Cochran Trotters Cup.

“He just had a few little problems with his feet,” McCallum said. “(Trainer) Stan (Cameron) looks to have got back on top of it.

“It’s part and parcel of life, I’m not sure who’s been injured the most – me or Savannah Jay Jay – between us we’ve had a fair history. But we are back and having a crack.

“It’s exciting. I’ve been racing him since day one, Stan drove him for his first trial and since then it’s been me, except for when I got injured.

“He has always had that touch of something, that he’s a bit better than average, it has just taken a lot of races until it comes to fruition.”

While McCallum was waylaid talented young reinsman James Herbertson steered Savannah Jay Jay to victory in the Australasian Trotting Championship, a first Group 1 for the now nine-year-old trotter.

McCallum would love nothing more than to add a second this TAB Summer of Glory carnival, which takes in tonight’s trotters cup and builds to the What The Hill Great Southern Star on February 1, Australia’s richest trotting race.

Savannah Jay Jay has the widest back row in tonight’s feature, having been out of the draw after breaking last start. It was his second since returning from a spell, with each run more eye-catching than the figure form may suggest.

“He had a hiccup last week, it’s one out of the box for him,” McCallum said. “Stan’s had him reshod, he trialled on Sunday and trialled damn good.

“We are up in grade now, you have to be damn good to have a shot. The whole field is a nice field, but that back line is pretty classy. He won’t be far away if they run it the way he wants.”

And then all focus will turn to the February 1 Group 1 at Tabcorp Park Melton.

“He’ll be even better after his run this week and by the Great Southern Star he’ll be knocking on the door,” McCallum said.

“When you are doing this all your life, these are the races you want to be in, the big ones. The Great Southern Star is a great race and it brings the best horses.”