Jack Trainor. Photo by Club Menangle
WITH nine drives in nine races, it’s rare that Cameron Hart is NOT regarded as the driver to follow at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
And with a three-win lead over Jack Trainor in the metropolitan drivers’ premiership, its ironic that Trainor is the man who might catch him at Sydney’s premier harness racing track tonight.
Trainor will be aboard three early favourites and is looking to quickly make up for lost time after a recent suspension let Hart kick away from him in the drivers’ title, leading 34-31.
Trainor looks the man to follow in Race 2, where Reactor Now, a recent acquisition from the Victorian stables of David Aiken, will be looking for back-to-back Menangle wins since joining the stables.
While it was Hart who last saluted aboard this gelded son of Auckland Reactor, Trainor jumps back into the bike tonight and Reactor Now has been installed as the $2.25 early favourite, despite an awkward draw near the outside of the front line.
Trainor has also taken back the drive on Stingray Tara ($3 favourite) in Race 6, again from Hart.
One of the most improved pacers in training, Stingray Tara had seven runs for the Jason Grimson stable before switching to Trainor’s care although did score a slashing 1:50.8 win earlier this year and would only need a repeat of that form to be the one to beat.
Yet Hart won’t mind missing that drive because he has picked up the steer on another star in Wolf Stride ($6.50) for trainer Darren Binskin and he’s certain to also make his presence felt on the back of two impressive Menangle trial wins.
Trainor knows how difficult beating Wolf Stride may be as he actually drive him in one of those trial wins.
The former Kiwi horseman, Trainor could easily finish with a winning treble tonight as he will also partner highly-rated filly Braeview Kelly in Race 8.
Since arriving from the South Island of New Zealand in July, Braeview Kelly, a daughter of boom sire Bettors Delight, has won five Menangle races and his only defeat was to stablemate B K Swy in a 1:50.6 mile in mid-August.
Again Trainor has replaced Hart on what looks likely to be the shortest-priced favourite of the night.
Hart won’t be complaining about losing that drive either, as he will drive the second favourite, the impressive youngster Tay Tay for Grimson.
