'JT' shows them how it's done

14 April 2021

FREELANCE Bathurst reinsman John O’Shea has long been regarded as one of the best of his craft in country New South Wales and he showed just why by landing a winning treble at Parkes on Saturday night.

Harness racing has coursed through O’Shea’s veins from birth as his father Jack was also an accomplished horseman.

As a youngster, he produced one of the best drives ever seen in a Gold Crown Final when he guided Beetson to victory in the 2010 edition of the Bathurst feature.

These days ‘JT’ does not drive as frequently as in the past and spends much of his time traveling the district as a sort-after farrier.

He and his partner Amy Rees also train a small team of pacers and they are currently building their first home.

The star of their stable is Sams Express, a gelding that has won nine races for their team.

Very few drive the 800m circuits better than O’Shea and on Saturday night he landed a winning double for Tony Higgs while his third winner was for Dubbo’s Barry Lew.

“I had my first drive in a race for Higgsy when I was 16 so it was great to land a double for him last weekend,” said O’Shea.

“Both Vincero and Mount Montecarlo got to the line strongly after enjoying good runs.”

The Barry Lew-trained Great Presence led throughout to make it two on the bounce and the three-year-old former New Zealander looks set for a bright future.

O’Shea is very popular with the Lew family and drives regularly for brothers John and Barry.

“I like both horses that I am driving tonight for Barry,” he said.

“Dazzle Me (Race 4) is a really nice little horse who resumed from a spell at Dubbo last week and ran a handy third.

“He rises in grade tonight but has drawn barrier one and should get an economical run from there and perform well.”

Karloo Bradley takes on a strong field in the Club Menangle Country Series Heat (Race 3) and he too has drawn ideally in gate one.

“He is a funny horse who was a bit plain at Parkes after enjoying the one-out and one-back trail, but from the draw he should be thereabouts,” said O’Shea.

“He is definitely a better horse when drawn closer to the pegs.”