Soft launch for Manning’s return to driving

Kerryn Manning has a “soft launch” into Inter Dominion week when she returns from injury for just one harness racing drive at Horsham tomorrow (Dec 11).

Manning, 47, hasn’t driven since a fall at Melton on October 7 left her with four fractures in a wrist.

The trailblazing driver has been racing time and medical approval to partner her family’s trotter, Plymouth Chubb, in next Saturday night’s Group 1 Inter Dominion trotting final at Albion Park.

“I finally got the all-clear last week. It took some doing,” she said. “I’ve been able to drive horses at home for a while, but it’s great to be going back to the races. I thought I’d just ease my way back into it.”

The wrist injury came just weeks after Manning returned from three broken vertebrae after a fall at the Horsham trials in late July.

Manning will drive her own pacer, The Sportz Star, from outside the back row (gate nine) at Horsham.

Then her focus turns to Albion Park and being reunited with Plymouth Chubb, who she hasn’t driven since winning the Group 2 Knight Pistol at Melton on February 3. It was Manning’s 16th win aboard the trotter from his 19 career wins.

“It’ll be great to get back on him,” Manning said. “I’ve been watching him through the heats; I’m so thrilled for Mum (Barb) and Dad (Peter) he’s going so well. All three runs have been terrific.”

NSW young gun Cam Hart drove Plymouth Chubb superbly through the heats but knew the final drive was Manning’s if she got the medical clearance.

It’s been a huge training performance from Peter Manning to prime Plymouth Chubb for the Inter Dominion after more than eight months on the sidelines with injury and only two lead-up races.

“It’s been a race against time,” Peter Manning said. “His stable name is Chubby, and he got so fat during his time out, it was a real balancing act between trying to get him fit without working him too hard and risking stirring the injury again.”

“It was really only his final workout at home when I decided to bring him up. It was D-Day, and he worked the quickest mile he ever had, so I decided to give it a crack.”

“He still looks fat, but maybe that’s just him. He’s racing really well.”

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by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia