Riverina duo has high hopes in State Championship

27 May 2022

The TAB Regional Championships draw to a close tomorrow night when the State Final and Consolation will be run at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

The popular series was conducted throughout the state at Wagga, Bathurst, Newcastle and Menangle where heats and four $100,000 finals provided owners and trainers the opportunity to race for high stakes.

No doubt the Board and administrators of HRNSW would be ecstatic with the success of this year’s edition and will look forward to the series being even stronger next year.

Junee based trainer Trevor White and talented Riverina driver Peter McRae will be chasing their first Group 1 feature tomorrow night with consistent pacer Defiant.

The gelding which was bred and is raced by White, qualified for the final after running second behind Rocknroll Runa, the likely favourite for the finale.

After drawing barrier one , both White and McRae will travel to Club Menangle with high hopes and expect that they will secure a perfect run behind Rocknroll Runa which should lead from gate two.

68 year old White has been a real force within the Riverina training ranks for decades, training a multitude of winners but is yet to win a Group 1.

McRae has shown talent in the gig from the time he first gained his license as a teenager when introduced to the sport by White.

“I have been driving for Trev from when I first got my license at 16,” said McRae.

“He has taught me all that I know about the game and gave me plenty of drives which helped me learn the craft of being a reinsman.”

“I was happy when I found out that Defiant had come up with the pole draw tomorrow night. He was beaten a fair way by Rocknroll Runa last week, but he is very honest and has drawn to figure prominently.”

“We are thrilled to be in the final and it would be a dream come true to win a race like this with Trev.”

Leading Hunter Valley trainer Clayton Harmey has been in fine form of late and again has a strong hand at Newcastle tonight where a solid nine-race program will be conducted.

Of his runners, Abdicate (Race 4) appears to be his best. The gelding has been racing against stronger opposition than he meets tonight, and driver Blake Hughes knows the horse well.