20-year-old ready for his first Inter Dominion

Young Newcastle-born harness racing reinsman Jack Callaghan has already achieved much in harness racing, despite his tender age.

But the 20-year-old is understandingly excited on the eve of driving in his first Inter Dominion series tomorrow night when he takes the reins behind the Belinda McCarthy-trained Alta Orlando in heat two of the pacer’s championship at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

“It is a massive honour to be given the chance to drive Alta Orlando in such an important race,” said Callaghan.

“It is humbling for me that Belinda and Luke [McCarthy] as well as the owners have indicated that I will retain the drive on him throughout the series, so hopefully we can do the job for them and make the final.

“He has scored a good draw in his heat, coming out of gate three.

“He is a very fast horse off the arm so I do expect to find the pegs first and I will weigh up my options from there.

“Alta Orlando is the most experienced horse in the series, and I don’t think you can write him off, especially with the traditional format of the three rounds of heats and the final.

“I feel a seasoned horse like him will cope well with those conditions.

“I have also picked up a drive aboard Empire Bay for Joe and Mary Rando in the second heat of the trotters’ series.

“He is a real outsider so obviously he will need luck to make the final.

“But if he can snare cosy runs in his heats then maybe he could sneak into the big one.”

Tonight, at Newcastle, young Callaghan will be able to polish up for his Inter Dominion quest as he has seven drives on the 10-race program.

“I have a really strong book of drives at Newcastle tonight, but some of those have awkward draws,” he said.

“I would say New Yorker (Race 6) is my best chance of winning.

“He is first-up from a break and has drawn wide but he had a sharp trial at Penrith last week so I feel that he will prove too classy for his rivals.

“I am also keen on the chances of last-start winner Grosestar (Race 3) and two-year-old filly Pinkromar, who comes up against the older horses in Race 8 but is working up to a win.”

To view the fields for Newcastle on Friday night click here.

To view the fields for Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW