Young driver Blake Micallef has just started freelance driving and is enjoying the results. Photo by Amanda Rando
THERE is no doubt that up-and-coming Young-based reinsman Blake 'Buzz' Micallef is presently one of the Riverina’s most in-form drivers.
Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Micallef rode the crest of a wave, and was happy to travel long distances to drive, such was his talent and popularity with trainers.
But things turned a little pear-shaped for the young man when the industry was forced into placing travel restrictions on regions to lessen the risk of the virus spreading, which would have potentially had a devastating effect on the racing industry.
Fast-forward nine months and Blake is back where he left off, driving plenty of winners for different stables.
“It is great to be back driving on a regular basis,” said Micallef.
“Obviously the more you drive, the better you become and as with anything you do, the results follow.
“I guess that putting in the hard yards is paying off for me and I cannot under-estimate how much support I am getting from my mum and dad.
“They have dramatically increased the number of horses they have in work and the team is flying; we all work very hard at it.”
The 24-year-old carpenter steered home a winning treble at Junee last Tuesday night, including winning a heat of the Pacers Cup aboard Kanena Provlima for Bathurst trainer, Ben Settree.
Blake followed up with a winning double at Albury on Friday night aboard Tromso and Golden Zara, which are both trained by his father David.
“I am only a month into giving freelance driving a crack so to drive five winners for the week cannot harm my aspirations,” he said.
Micallef heads to Junee tonight brimming with confidence as two of his four drives are well-fancied.
“Kanena Provlima only scraped in to win his heat but he did do a ton of work and I would not swap my drive for any other in the Cup.”
“I have had a great association with Ben Settree, driving three winners for him from just six drives.
“We would love to keep that good strike rate intact tonight . . . and I think we can.”
The Ellen Bartley-trained and Blake Jones-driven Nowhere Creek is the obvious danger as he has won four of his past five starts.
Dragon Stride will be chasing a hat-trick of wins in the opening race tonight with Micallef aboard
