Ignatius changes hands

Group 1 winning pacer Ignatius will change hands but only for one day so that he can race at Tabcorp Park Menangle this Saturday night.

With racing in New South Wales under a regional model, Ignatius has been unable to contest metropolitan-grade events at Menangle as he is trained outside of that region.

Prepared in Exeter in the Southern Highlands by James Rattray, Ignatius has raced at the Goulburn and Wagga tracks in his last three starts.

However, Rattray has the Group 1 Victoria Cup earmarked for his Roll With Joe gelding and wanted the 29-time winner to have a taste of metropolitan racing prior to that.

“I want to race him in the Victoria Cup but I want to see how he measures up racing at Menangle again before that happens,” said Rattray.

“I can’t go to Menangle as I’m outside of the area so I will have Igantius and Star Major transported to Hannah Rixon’s at Pheasants Nest and she will take the horses to the races.

“Hannah has worked at my stable before so she knows how to take care of them.

“They will spend the day and night at her place and then come back home.

“John McCarthy will drive both horses . . . he has driven some great horses in the past and I didn’t hesitate putting him on at all.”

When Rattray first relocated from Tasmania to NSW, he spent at least six months working his team of horses at McCarthy’s property.

“John was great to us when we first moved up during the Beautide days,” Rattray recalled.

“He’s a great driver and I know he will suit my horses.”

Fresh from a win at Goulburn on Monday, Ignatius and McCarthy will contest the Group 3 Garrards Horse and Hound Sutton McMillan FFA this Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Star Major will contest the NR up to 95 event and has not raced since he obliterated the Riverina Paceway track record on September 10 where he clocked 1:50.3.

To view the full fields for Menangle this Saturday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink