Cashman has his sights set on a Group 1 debut

A rejuvenated Rick Cashman has his sights set on a Group 1 harness racing debut with emerging pacer My Uncle Stan (Sweet Lou) ahead of his appearance in the second heat of the Ride High Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old entires and geldings at Melton on Friday night.

Cashman, 59, has just returned from a Bali vacation, leaving the gelding out of Naree Rose in very capable hands.

“ I have been in Bali for two weeks and I have left him in the care of (fellow trainers) Max Cavey and Charlie Wootton. They said he has worked well since I have been away,” Cashman said.

“He was going well before I went and I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t be going just as well now.”

The winner of five races from 25 starts has amassed close to $50,000, including a metro Melton success.

“Jodi (Quinlan) has always liked him as a three-year-old, and he has continued to progress and is genuine in what he delivers at the metro level,” he said.

Quinlan has driven the pacer on 13 occasions and will pilot the gelding in the $10,000 VSS qualifier.

“She knows the horse well, she is trusting the horse and she is patient with the horse,” Cashman, from Cranbourne, said.

My Uncle Stan has drawn four for the 2240m event.

“There are some really nice horses in the field like Keayang Tokyo and The Lost Storm,” Cashman said.

“I will leave it up to Jodi to see where we land, but he does have gate speed and he is versatile.”

Qualifiers from the Vicbred Super Series heats move through to semi-finals on September 7 before the Group 1 classics on September 14 at Melton Entertainment Park.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria