Robert Johnson Junior better know as Junior Johnson was one of the early superstars in the sport of NASCAR racing and Condell Park trainer Martin Herbert is hoping his two year old gelding named after Johnson can show as much as speed in this Saturday night’s Sapling Stakes at Tabcorp Park Menangle. Junior Johnson was named by his breeder Wayne Ross and Herbert is excited by the talented youngster.
“Wayne loves his NASCAR racing and apparently Johnson is credited with discovering drafting or slipstreaming so hopefully his namesake shows as much speed,” Herbert said.
“He is well over 16 hands and to be honest I don’t think he is a natural two year old but he’s just realty good and therefore is able to compete with the good ones as a baby but the Sapling Stakes will be his last run this preparation before having a month or so off and getting ready for the Seymour series in Queensland and the Breeders Crown.”
Herbert acknowledges that Junior Johnson will have to be driven differently this week in comparison with his debut effort when he led and won in 1:58.5 at Menangle on January 24.
“I actually took him to the trials at Menangle on Monday and he sat off the speed to teach him a few things just in case we drew poorly in the Sapling Stakes and when the draw came out and we drew barrier ten I was happy that we did.”
“He wears a 62 inch hopple but he doesn’t carry a lot of weight and all of the family have been better three year olds so I think he will be a lot better in twelve months time but he is a very impressive type that will just need a bit of luck from back in the field on Saturday night.”
Junior Johnson has never tasted defeat in a race or a trial and Herbert believes he is the best two year old he has had for a long time.
“He has never been beaten at the trials and he has been working at home with a metropolitan winning pacer and he can handle him pretty easily so I think he is very exciting.”
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 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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