McDonough the one to follow today at Menangle

Exciting young reinsman Bailey McDonough looks the man to follow at Menangle today with one of his best books of harness racing drives since making the move from Victoria about two months ago.

McDonough cut his teeth working for a number of top trainers in Victoria, as well as his father Allan before deciding to make the move north.

Working for Belinda and Luke McCarthy has done him no harm and he has been catching the eye of a number of trainers.

Not least of those are Mary and Joe Rando, who have booked him to handle two top chances at Club Menangle today.

Toro Stride (Love You) looks to be the best of those as the four-year-old square-gaiter chases a hat-trick of wins when he lines up in Race 2, a heat of the Trotters’ Carousel.

While this will be the first time McDonough has handled Toro Stride in a race, he has tested him out with two impressive trial wins in recent weeks and the trotter has the gate speed to be prominent throughout the 2300m event.

McDonough will also drive unbeaten gelding Bravo Stride (Captaintreacherous) in Race 6.

Team Rando have again given him a chance to get to know the son of Captaintreacherous as he handled the gelding in two trials, including an eye-catching win last week in a 1:55.7 mile rate.

McDonough also has designs on making his name in the training ranks and will have his first start with stable newcomer Eagle Watch in Race 9.

Originally from New Zealand’s North Island, Eagle Watch has had 11 Victorian starts for a lone win at Kilmore in June last year.

McDonough trialled Eagle Watch at Menangle last week and he shaped well in finishing third, beaten 3.8m by Promiseland and Bainbridge.

If Bainbridge resumes with a win in Race 8, it should point to a promising effort by Eagle Watch in Race 9.

Certainly McDonough is enjoying the challenge of Sydney harness racing.

“Much to Mum’s disgust this was always what I wanted to do,” he said.

“As soon as I could drive full-time, that was the way I wanted to go.

“I have learned off some of the best and not too many get the opportunities that I have been given to further my career.

“Dad has been a great horseman for a long time and I am just hoping he has passed some of that ability on to me.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW