Hart has another milestone within reach

17 August 2022

The harness racing world is certainly at the feet of former Riverina horseman, Cameron Hart.

Hart started his career in his hometown of Junee but even he could not have imagined that just six years later that he would be recognised as a champion reinsman.

At 23 years of age, Hart sits on 698 winners, just two away from achieving the milestone of 700 winners.

The 2018/19 season was a turning point for Hart as, after relocating to Sydney he finished fifth on the state Premiership with 95 winners, 20 of which were at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

The following season saw Hart break through the century barrier when he was placed third in the Premiership behind Luke McCarthy and Robert Morris with 161 winners.

Last season Hart won the New South Wales Drivers title after recording 174 winners and he currently leads the Premiership this season on 114, eight wins clear of his nearest rival, Jack Callaghan with just over four months remaining.

“It is very humbling to have driven so many winners at my age,” said Hart.

“But it does not just happen. I have worked hard to achieve the results to date, and I have been fortunate to have had great support from so many.”

Hart will head to Penrith on Thursday night in the hope that he can reach the 700-win milestone from four drives on the program.

And while he is quietly confident that all four can perform well, his best chance of landing a winner is aboard the Jason Grimson-trained two-year-old Maddis Tiger in race seven.

The colt is having his first start in Australia for prominent owner Michael Boots and only had one run in New Zealand when he ran fourth at Addington.

But he looked sharp in a recent Menangle trial where he ran third against good opposition in a mile rate of 1:55.3.

“He appears to be a nice type from what I saw of him in that trial,” said Hart.

“Jason drove him on that occasion, and he was full of praise for him.

“Drawing gate six is not ideal over the shorter trip at Penrith but I will float him off the arm see what happens from there.

“But I am hoping that we can find a forward position and hopefully he will have too much class for his rivals.”