The Janitor wipes his opponents off the floor

Rising star The Janitor (Always B Miki) is looming as one of Queensland’s most promising pacers with a strong harness racing win At Albion Park on Saturday night in the Racing and Sports.com Band 5 Open pace.

Awkwardly drawn on the inside row driver Pete McMullen eased The Janitor back in the field to the rear. Regazzo Di Tilly showed his customary brilliant early speed to take the lead from Risk Taker and Apollo Storm.

No sooner had McMullen had The Janitor balanced he sent him around the field to race alongside Regazzo Di Tilly whose driver Angus Gerrard had allowed him to run the first quarter in 27.8 seconds.

Regazzo Di Tilly who had plenty of support to down The Janitor continued to free wheel in the lead along the back straight and then both pacers gradually drew clear of the others who could not keep up. Regazzo Di Tilly gave plenty of cheek and continued to match it with The Janitor even though Gerrard was the first to go for home. However McMullen driving confidently allowed his charge to gradually take the lead and at the finish he had just under 2 metres to spare over a gallant Regazzo Di Tilly while Apollo Storm was a distant third just under 25 metres away.

THE JANITOR 10 MAY REPLAY

The winner rated 1.50.7 but the gelding has a personal best of 1.49.6 so at his top he is capable of running much quicker.

Winning trainer Chantal Turpin is now hoping the selection panel will now issue an invite to The Rising Sun so a campaign can be mapped out.

Turpin has made no secret that she has a huge opinion of the horse and emphatic in saying it is the best horse in their stable

The plans are to keep him ticking over towards carnival, Turpin will be selective and just take him through the grades.

As Turpin summed up, “He did that well within himself, exciting times ahead”.

Whilst at this stage no one is suggesting that The Janitor is in the same class as Leap to Fame he is still capable of more improvement and Albion Park is his home track and if maintains his form he will acquit himself well in the forthcoming Inter Dominion during July.

And one must respect the opinions of the Turpin stable in holding the four year old gelding in such high regard.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink