Southern Luck (Todd Rattray) win a heat of the Easter Cup in Launceston 22 March. Photo: Stacey Lear
Brighton-based harness racing trainer Danny Malone has capitalised on his momentum with a strong start to the 2026 season.
The trainer has a 32% top three strike rate for the term, which includes one of his biggest wins, with Southern Luck recently claiming a heat of the Group 3 Easter Cup in Launceston.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Ifihadyourluck finished ninth in the final when driven for luck through the pack last Saturday, and will return to the track in Hobart on Friday night, where he faces a 20m handicap in the Fehlbergs Produce Sprint Lane Pace over 2090m.
“He had four runs in a month, including two wins, but I gave him a spell for five days (after the Easter Cup heat), which I probably shouldn’t have done, but you live and learn,” said Malone.
Todd Rattray has been in the sulky for the pacers past two starts, and he will be in the sulky again on Friday, with Malone not too concerned with the 20m handicap after the performance of the pacer three starts ago when third in a 2579m standing start race in Hobart.
“He ended up giving them around 100m when he broke, and he made up all that distance, and he ran third, which made me push to the Easter Cup heat.
“He is a horse that has shown strength as he has gotten older, and he is a lot more mature now,” said the trainer.
Southern Luck’s older half-sister, Spooky Girl, also lines up on Friday in the Downbytheseaside @ Woodlands Stud Pace (1609m).
The daughter of Safe And Sound recorded her tenth career win two starts ago and was runner-up at her most recent outing behind Iden Oliver.
“She is a funny horse, she is a beautiful horse, but she can get hyped up.
“She is a horse you have got to have on the bit, and drive her with your hands. But she puts in, and she did last start, which was a tremendous run to run second,” said the trainer, with Heath Woods booked for the drive from a second-row draw.
Malone said he felt his team had a virus last year and that he had also changed his feeding regime, which has led to his stable performing more consistently this season.
Both Southern Luck and Spooky Girl recently passed $100,000 in prize-money earnings, and they are from the Jr Mint mare Mint Tan, and have been bred by Malone.
“She has been a good mare, and the older they get, the better they seem to be.
Malone is looking forward to more of her progeny hitting the track in the future, with colts by Lennytheshark and Tiger Tara for the trainer to look forward to in the coming seasons.
