Leading drivers go head-to-head at Menangle

22 June 2021

FRESH from a winning double at Menangle on Saturday night, Cameron Hart should resume his battles for and against Jack Trainor at the south-western Sydney track this afternoon.

That’s because Hart has driven 72 winners already this season from 375 drives and trails the in-form Trainor by 12.
Yet, ironically, it is Trainor, as a trainer, that is one of the first to book Hart’s services whenever the in-form young reinsman is available.
And these two exciting young reinsmen also share most of the drives for the Jason Grimson stable, which has 46 winners this season and has been dominating Menangle racing in recent weeks with a stack of doubles, trebles and quinellas.
Hart will be on two favourites at Menangle today.
Trainor gets the chance to also partner a potential winner for Grimson when he takes the drive on Teddy Feels Good, listed as the $1.75 favourite in early markets for race 9.
Hart has a decent shot at landing a treble as he will also drive Ball Park, the in-form square-gaiter, for Trevor Munday in Race 3 as well as Feels Lika Boss, the $4 early favourite for trainer Alex Alchin in Race 6.
Meanwhile the Belinda McCarthy and ace reinsman Luke McCarthy, who combined for a winning treble at Albion Park on Saturday night with three of their stable stars Spirit Of St Louis, Expensive Ego and King Of Swing, will head back there today chasing a treble.
“Ranger Bomb goes around in Race 6, while Ilikemebettor will contest Race 9 and The General is in race 10.
“The small field helps Ranger Bomb, even from the bad draw,” said Luke.
“He did trial well at Penrith the other day, but he still might need the run first-up.
“And Ilikemebettor finished third in an APG heat and was placed behind Jay OK in the Group 2 APG Consolation final for four-year-olds.
“So, he has good form around some nice horses, and I do expect him to race well,” said Luke.
“We’ll be staying up here for a few weeks now and we’ll leave the bulk of the driving at Menangle to Jack Callaghan and Ashley Hart, who have both been in good form for the stable.”
McCarthy has also picked up two handy ‘outside’ drives at Albion Park today, Aye Aye Captain for Wayne Graham in race 5 and Moreau Drive for Ricky Thurlow in Race 7.
by MICHAEL COURT