There was elation all round when Kayne Crusader trained by Clayton Harmey and driven by rising star Jack Callaghan won the $100,000 TAB Hunter Region Final last Saturday night.
The 18-year-old Callaghan showed composure beyond his years after Kanye Crusader broke a hopple soon after the start, an incident which could have proved disastrous.
But the four-year-old pacer overcame the setback to give Callaghan the final of the TAB Hunter regional championship and in doing so he beat out his father Mark, who drove runner-up Master Catch, by a half neck.
“That just made it better,” laughed Jack.
Mark Callaghan, as you might imagine, has been Jack’s greatest supporter since he started race driving 23 months ago and the youngster still works for his father.
“He has been a great teacher but at the top of the straight last night I thought he was going to beat me,” said Jack.
“But my horse tries really hard and after the line Dad said to me: ‘well one of us has got it but I think it is you.”
Trainer Clayton Harmey has been enjoying a stellar year having won the group two Tamworth Golden Guitar in January along with multiple winners at most meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic and regionalisation.
“I though the Golden Guitar was a highlight but this is even better.” Harmey declared.
“For HRNSW and TAB to continue with the Championships when we are all facing such really difficult times is really appreciated.”
“It has given all participants an opportunity to compete for better prizemoney in these races.”
“I have been a supporter of Jack but the drive could so easily have gone to young Blake (Hughes) but he will get his chance is a group one at some time”.
Blake Hughes won the qualifying heat on Kayne Crusader but was ineligible for the group one drive as he doesn’t have his A-grade licence.
“That same thing happened to me last year in a group two at Wagga, I had a horse for the final but couldn’t drive it because I didn’t have my A licence,” said Callaghan.
But the TAB Hunter Region Final got almost more exciting than Callaghan could have wished for after Kanye Crusader’s early mishap which left one of his front hopples flapping around his leg, not only useless but potentially dangerous.
“When it broke I just closed my eyes and hoped he wouldn’t fall,” says Callaghan.
“But after he settled it didn’t seem to bother him which is pretty incredible.”
Callaghan is hoping to bring his skills to Tabcorp Park Menangle more often once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and that will mean teaming up with Dad rather than beating him.
“Dad has some Menangle type horses and I want to drive there as often as I can when I get the chance.”
Jack Callaghan commenced race driving in June 2018 landing his first winner Lethal Star at Newcastle for his father. His record now stands at 616 drivers for 93 wins and 173 placings for prizemoney of $637,868.
