Blake earns key drives

One harness racing driver that holds his own on any stage but who is comfortable to be known as a quiet achiever is Cawdor horseman Blake Fitzpatrick, who has two key drives on Menangle’s huge Saturday night program.

Fitzpatrick will drive outsider Mach Da Vinci for Peter Hanson in the Allied Express Sprint and admits that the horse will need plenty of luck from a wide draw and against a quality field.

But it is from a lifetime friendship with Menangle Park trainer, David Thorn that Fitzpatrick finds himself driving Anntonia in the Pryde’s Easyfeeds Queen Elizabeth II Ladyship Mile.

Anntonia has proven to be one of the best mares of the modern era having won 13 of 21 starts, amassing almost $400,000 in stakes.

“When the connections called me last week and asked if I would drive Anntonia, obviously I jumped at the opportunity,” said Fitzpatrick.

“You would have to say that she was the state’s stand-out filly as both a two and three-year-old and she has come back so well as an open-class mare.

“Despite the top group of mares that she is coming up against this weekend, I am actually quite confident following her strong win last week.

“She has drawn wide, but Dave and I agree that there is plenty of speed drawn inside of us so I will look to find a spot in the running line.

“Dave is such a good trainer and always has his horses spot-on for the big races and this mare has proven in the past that when set for the Group races, she always stands up to the test.”

Blake also has four drives at Penrith on Thursday night and feels that he may have to wait until later in the night to get into the major prizemoney.

Rickoshay, a horse that he trains himself, is favoured to take out Race 5, while Justfeelngood also has claims in race 8.

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By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW