A kick towards first Menangle winner

At just 24-years of age, South Maitland harness racing trainer Mitch Chapple is one of the rising stars of the New South Wales training ranks.

Chapple has only held his harness racing trainer’s license since 2018 and has already racked up 54 winners to date.

On Saturday Chapple will head to Tabcorp Park Menangle in search of his first metropolitan winner as a trainer when he lines up with in-form New Zealand-bred mare Yoha (Terror To Love).

A winner at her past two starts, Yoha has raced her way through the grades since joining Chapple’s stable as a three-year-old and her recent efforts at Newcastle have convinced her connections to chase the bigger spoils at the state’s headquarters.

Unfortunately for Chapple he will be unable to partner his mare tomorrow night as he is still recovering from an injury he sustained five weeks ago in a raceday incident involving Yoha herself.

“It is disappointing that I cannot drive my mare tomorrow night,” said Chapple.

“I sustained a broken knuckle when Yoha lashed out and kicked me before a race in May.

“But all will be forgotten should she be able to win at Menangle.

“We decided to put Cameron Hart on to drive her.

“That was an easy decision for us to make as Cam is currently the best reinsman in Sydney.

“The instructions for Cameron will be to get to the pegs first and then it will be up to him to assess what will be the best move to make from there.

“She is much better when racing up on the speed so it is a no brainer that Cam will utilise her brilliant gate speed and have her up in the firing line.”

Chapple is grateful that owners Adam Muldoon and Rachel Garrett gave him the chance to train Yoha.

“Adam and Rachel have raced horses with my father Guy for a long time and were more than happy to leave their pacers with me when I took over the training from Dad,” said Mitch.

“Their ongoing support of me and our family is certainly appreciated.”

For complete Saturday race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW