Jett Turnbull.
THREE in-form reinsmen get the ‘call-up’ at Club Menangle on Saturday night as one of our all-time greats heads across the border chasing more riches.
Luke McCarthy’s team has never been in better form and the Cobbitty horseman has taken a formidable team to Queensland to chase some of their features, headed by Don Hugo and his quest to defend his Inter Dominion title.
That’s proves a blessing for one of our most exciting young reinsman Jett Turnbull, as well as two of our experienced drivers in Brad Hewitt and Chris Geary.
All three have been handed top drives by McCarthy, who begins his Albion Park campaign with some of the cream of his team, including champion mare Eye Keep Smiling.
Jett Turnbull, who has been in fabulous form all around the state in recent weeks, already has 86 wins this season and at the ripe old age of 17 would have been thrilled to get the call from McCarthy.
He will drive McCarthy’s stable newcomer I Break The Line in Race 3, with the impressive five-year-old certain to be a contender against a smart field of locals.
Brad Hewitt would also have been delighted to be offered the drive on McCarthy’s lightly-raced mare Boulevardofdreams, who has been improving steadily in recent weeks and looks a mighty chance in Race 4 following some slick times at her recent runs.
Then one of McCarthy’s former stable foremen, Chris Geary, jumps into the bike for his old boss in Race 5, the best race of the night, when he drives veteran gelding Kingmaker.
The nine-year-old has gone within a whisker of breaking 1:50 at his past two starts and will be chasing a hat-trick against a quality field including Inter Dominion aspirants Captains Knock, Max Delight and Nyack.
Southern Highlands horseman James Rattray will soon pack his bags and head for Brisbane with Nyack, along with his other stable star London To A Brick, who looks to have a mortgage on Race 8, the $50,000 Trot NSW Final.
Rattray is using this feature as a build-up towards the Inter Dominion, which begins with heats at Albion Park on July 5.
“I've been very happy with his runs, including last week,” said Rattray.
“He did all the work outside the leader and never gave up.
“Having the Final on this week fits in perfectly with his program, as it is two weeks before the Inter starts.”
