On the right road for more success

Enthusiastic Melton harness racing trainer Danny Mullan has had a good few top line performers over the years, but he’s upbeat about a recent addition to his small stable.

Journeyman gelding Hittheroadjack (Terror To Love NZ) has posted two city wins from little more than a handful of starts for the veteran horseman.

“We’re more than happy with him and we’re confident we can get him back to his best—and I don’t think we’re all that far off,” Mullan said.

“He’s going nicely and mixing it with some really smart ones. What I really like about him is that his best work is in the last 100 metres of his races and at his last start (fourth) he got past some good horses.”

Hittheroadjack, owned by well-known WA bloodstock agent Frank Ranaldi, posted his first Melton win on September 1 and then repeated the dose 18 days later. On both occasions he was driven by young Heathcote driver Sean O’Sullivan, son of legendary trainer-driver Jim.

After starting his career in New Zealand, Hittheroadjack won at Motukarara and Addington in early 2021 before finding his way over “the ditch” to WA.

He immediately found form for Greg and Skye Bond winning two at Central Wheatbelt meetings—and after another five was sent over to Queensland to be in the care of Grant Dixon. He won at Albion Park in December 2022, and later joined Shane Graham. But after a handful of runs he was sent south and eventually joined the Danny Mullan stable.

“Our son-in-law Patrick Tomkinson was offered the horse on a recommendation to Frank from Greg Sugars, who is a good friend.  But Patrick’s got a full-time job now so I was quick to say I’d take him if he wanted. It’s worked in really well, because Patrick is the partner of our daughter Kat (Kathleen) and trains out of our place,” Mullan said.

“Frank is an astute industry person who has raced a lot of great horses, but on top of that he’s a nice guy. We’ve had a fun journey so far and I’m appreciative of his willingness to back me in.”

Mullan said he was thrilled to be giving up-and-coming concession reinsman Sean O’Sullivan the chance to drive his horse when he could.

“He doesn’t get a lot of opportunities and the O’Sullivan family and us go back over a long period of time. We probably go back to the mid-1970s when Jim was down this way living next door in Toolern Vale.

“Our other daughter, Samantha was one of the early female concession drivers and Jim would put her on. I later become his second-string and did a few interstate trips with him—I was always on the longshot but that was okay by me!”

Mullan said it had been a pleasure to repay his great mate Jim and give Sean a chance.

“When I started, I was a self-taught kid from the suburbs, and I learnt so much from Jim – I have so much respect for him.”

Samantha Mullan, who has two teenage children, has not driven for around five years, but was prominent in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“She won quite a few country cups including the Ouyen and Wangaratta Pacing Cups for me with Victorys Phil (Victory Sarnel), back in 1993,” he said.

“Samantha would yell at the horses rather than use the whip. On one occasion she made-up ground on the late Vin Knight and when she told him after the race she nearly got him, Vin replied that he knew ‘because he heard her coming’!”

Samantha won nine races on Victorys Phil, including one at Moonee Valley.  Her sister Kat has gone on to become Equine Health and Welfare Coordinator at Harness Racing Australia.

“Apart from the two girls, we also have two sons—but they are focused on a different type of horsepower, that being motocross and later cars, V8 utes and jetboats.

“They are very big in building high performance engines at GM Motorsport at Melton,” Mullan said.

Currently Mullan’s reliable campaigner Imperial Whiz (Imperial Count) stands as one of the best of his career, with 19 wins so far. Another recent handy performer was Hes Themightyspin (11 wins), now with Patrick Tomkinson.  Artoc has been Mullan’s most successful winner, with 20 victories from 2010 to 2016, but he has fond memories of the 1980s and ‘90s era, with top horses including Victory’s Phil (10 wins, Pala Royale (Mercedes) (9 wins) and Henry Bromac (OK Bye) (7 wins).

The 77-year-old who now trains only one or two at a time has done himself proud in a long career, with 152 wins and 393 placings for $977,000 in stakemoney. But he does admit he recently was feeling his age after some friendly fire in the horse wash from Hittheroadjack.

“I was towelling him off and giving him a nice rub. He’s never been aggressive but let go with a kick and I copped one around the thigh region. I was down on my knees wishing I had been wearing a cricket protector,” he laughed.

Hittheroadjack will compete at Kilmore tomorrow night (Sept 29) and is quoted as an $11 chance in pre-post markets in the Carlton and United Breweries Pace at 9.32pm.

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by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink