Kiwi native Jack Trainor. Photo by Club Menangle
LIFE has come the full circle for former New Zealander Jack Trainor.
These days he is regarded as one of the ‘top gun’ trainers at Tabcorp Park Menangle as his team at the nearby Menangle Training Centre continues to thrive.
Now his former Kiwi boss, Cran Dalgety has called on Trainor to handle two of his stable stars in upcoming features in Australia, trusting him with the drives on Krug and Just Remember Me, who add a touch of class by competing at tonight’s Menangle meeting.
And the normally laid-back Trainor admits he is excited to be entrusted with two such classy customers, describing Krug as possibly a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ horse.
Krug gets a serious hit-out tonight over a flying mile against some established Menangle stars like Cash N Flow, The Black Prince and Inter Dominion heat winner Bundoran in Race 2.
“I’m just excited to get to drive a horse like this,” Trainor said.
“He arrived here on Sunday in good order; he’s a nice horse to look at – and Menangle should suit him down to the ground.
“On his looks and how he has worked this week, I do expect him to go close tonight.”
Krug’s main mission is the February 19 $250,000 Chariots Of Fire although a win in that feature could also lead to a start in the $1m Miracle Mile on March 5.
“I started my career with Cran as a 14-year-old in New Zealand and it’s pretty amazing that we have come the full circle and he is now calling on me to drive his horses in feature races in Australia,” said Trainor.
Trainor will also partner promising three-year-old filly Just Remember Me for Dalgety in Race 5, with the lightly-raced youngster also expected to make her presence felt, despite being up against Jarrod Alchin’s star filly Madrid, who’s lining up for her sixth successive win.
Beautifully bred, being by Captaintreacherous out of former champion mare Adore Me, Trainor said he had watched a few of her runs in New Zealand and felt she should have won her last start, when narrowly beaten by Mark Purdon’s star filly True Fantasy in Auckland.
“We have the visitor’s draw tonight but she should be right in it and this should be a good guide as to how she will measure up against the best fillies as she heads towards the NSW Oaks,” said Trainor.
