Back in the gig after fall and driving winners

In November last year, veteran Menangle Park harness racing horseman Glenn McElhinney was involved in a nasty fall at the Wednesday morning trials.

The incident resulted in him sustaining a badly-fractured elbow, which required surgery.

McElhinney was then forced to spend six weeks on the sideline, something that did not sit well with the keen competitor.

“It was a frustrating time for me as I had some nice drives in good races over the Christmas-New Year period,” said McElhinney.

“But all is well now, and I am back in the gig and driving some winners.”

Of course, one of those winners was the talented Titian Raider, which McElhinney partnered to win the Group 2 Cordina Chicken Farms Hondo Grattan Stakes last Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

The win qualified the Harry Martin trained four-year-old for the upcoming Chariots of Fire, a $250,000 feature being run at Headquarters on February 19.

The ‘G-Mac’ and Martin go back a long way and they now have a real live chance to take out the Group 1 event with Titian Raider.

“Harry and I are just a couple of old mates who are enjoying the ride that this horse is taking us on,” said McElhinney.

“He is a very smart individual and I tell anyone that wants to listen that he is getting better with every run.

“And Titian Raider’s owners are a great bunch too.

“They know what it is like to own a good horse and they let me do my job as a driver.

“I cannot thank them enough for having faith in me.

“No doubt the Chariots will draw a star-studded field, but I would not swap my drive for any other.”

McElhinney heads to Penrith tonight where he has three drives and although he admits barrier draws have not favoured him, he pointed out that Jeffcoate was impressive when winning his maiden there last week.

“The horse is named after a very good friend of mine in John Jeffcoate, who passed away a few years ago and there were emotional scenes following that win last week, made more special given that I wore John’s racing silks,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the gelding has drawn wide tonight (gate five) but the win will improve his confidence.

“There are some handy ones drawn inside him, so I will have to drive him for luck.”

To view the fields for Penrith on Thursday click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW