16 August 2019
NEWCASTLE PREVIEW | MICHAEL COURT
YOUNG Hunter Valley reinsman Jack Callaghan landed his first treble when successful at Newcastle on Saturday night.
Yet his second hat-trick may come just six days later when he heads there tonight with excellent prospects of a repeat performance.
Jack will drive three short-priced favourites on the 10-race card – and all of them are for his father Mark, whose team seems to be expanding with the addition of Jack and his enthusiastic work ethic.
Jack’s hat-trick last weekend were with Courageous Dancer, Glenn Ford and the ultra-talented mare Black Silhouette.
Jack will back up Courageous Dancer in Race 8 tonight and the consistent Courage Under Fire-bred gelding should go close to adding to an already imposing record of two wins and eight placings from just 18 starts.
“I was pleased to land my first treble at Newcastle,” said Callaghan, who now has more than 50 winners to his name.
“I have had a lot of success there . . . Newcastle is a track where I have learned everything.
“It was a really great night for me, really enjoyable and I was able to drive some nice horses too.”
Courageous Dancer led all the way last week and Callaghan is hoping for a repeat performance.
Callaghan will also be hoping for similar luck when he partners consistent gelding Johnny White in Race 2.
The former Kiwi pacer has had just three runs since joining the stable and although yet to win in Australia has a fairly impressive record in the Shaky Isles with six wins and 19 placings from 60 starts.
Drawn gate four tonight, Johnny White has been installed a $1.80 favourite, the shortest-priced commodity of the night, and should be able to open his account at the track with a win.
Callaghan’s other handy drive is a maiden, although Glen Innes Boy has been listed as an even-money favourite in early markets following some solid efforts at Newcastle in recent weeks.
Owned by former trainer-driver Stuart Dawson, Glen Innes Boy has four placings but is yet to salute the judge in 27 starts, including 16 this season but gets his chance tonight against a small field of similarly-rated pacers.
The other driver to watch tonight is Robbie Morris, who heads north from Menangle with several winning chances, including Santannas Rocket (Race 5), Watchful Lady (Race 10) from his own stable and Master Catch (Race 2) and Only When I Play (Race 7), which are ‘catch’ drives.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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