4 May 2017
By PAUL MICALLEF
YOUNG reinsman, trainer and farrier Nathan Xuereb has had harness racing blood running through his veins since the day he was born.
Both his grandparents were Harold Park winning trainers and his biggest support base today is his mum and dad, Dianne and Michael.
Luke McCarthy and Craig Cross have also played a big part in 20-year-old’s development having spent nearly two years at their Cobbitty stables.
That’s about to end in the near future as he returns home to help his family on their recently acquired Londonderry stables.
And the horse set to fly the flag for the establishment is a promising, big, green, immature long-striding three-year-old called Redbelly Jack.
The horse was offered on lease to the Xuerebs by Luke McCarthy with an option to buy.
Now owned by Dianne, trained by Michael and to be driven by Nathan, Redbelly Jack is ready to break his maiden at his second start tonight at Penrith.
The gelding made his debut at Newcastle on April 22 where he worked to the lead from barrier 10 and was only collared over the concluding stages.
He looked all over a winner as he kicked clear on the turn before being swamped over the last 50m to finish third to First Fleet in 1:59.9 for the mile.
He was sent out favourite on that occasion on the strength of his all-the-way 50m trial win over tonight’s same course and distance in 1:57.5 on April 12.
“He showed in his trial win he has a little bit of a motor. He covers his ground really nice and he did it easily,’’ Nathan said.
“Although beaten at his first start we (mum, dad and I) were really happy with his effort overall,’’ he explained.
“He’s a young horse with a limited preparation, still green and to do what he did first-up to lead from barrier 10 was a big ask.
“Barrier one tonight is a lot easier than 10 and has the experience of being around Penrith obviously.’’
“He will be best suited to find the top and he will be hard to beat from there,’’ warned Nathan.
A graduate from the mini trotters, Nathan has driven 62 winners since winning his first race on Little Gozo at Penrith in 2012.
He has been on a winning streak of late around the Hunter Valley, driving a winning double at Newcastle last Saturday night.
He booted Moonlight Eyre and the very impressive Gracie Taljuice to victory and he will partner both of those horses again tonight.
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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AMANDA RANDO | MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
(02) 9722 6600 • arando@hrnsw.com.au • @Amanda_Rando