Experience counts

If experience counts for anything, then at least one of Saturday night’s $150,000 Breeders Challenge finals at Tabcorp Park Menangle may be as good as over.

And after drawing gate one in the three-year-old colts and geldings final, the head-strong Titian Raider will be giving more than just veteran trainer Harry Martin a few headaches this week as rivals stew on how they can possibly beat him.

Martin turned 81 last weekend and is confident Titian Raider can become the champion horse he has been searching for in the 25 years since his Miracle Mile winner Double Identity retired from racing.

Martin became the oldest driver to win the Miracle Mile when he steered him to victory in 2002 and he has called on experience again this weekend by handing the driving to another experienced campaigner in Glenn McElhinney, who has a mere 40 years’ experience in the sulky.

And Martin also has a score to settle with his Menangle ‘neighbour’ Rickie Alchin, who will have second favourite Captain Crusader in Saturday night’s feature – one of four $150,000 Breeders Challenge finals to be run at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

“Rickie’s other horse Watts Up Sunshine beat Titian Raider by a head here one night, so I guess we do have a score to settle,” Martin told National Trotguide on-line.

“Yes, there was a bit of banter between us when Captain Crusader was stabled next to us the other night.”

Martin doesn’t go overboard about his chances but is quietly confident Titian Raider can hold the lead from barrier one and lead all the way.

“Ricky’s horse does have terrific gate speed,” he said.

“Look, I hope we can hold him out when the starter lets them go. We’ll be doing our best.”

Martin admitted Titian Raider had a mind of his own and wasn’t the easiest horse to train.

“We had to leave the gig on him just so we could get the gear off him in the swabbing stall after he won the other night,” he laughed.

“Thankfully, he is learning. But he is a temperamental bugger.”

Martin said his former mighty pacer Double Identity held seven track records as one stage and went 1:53.5 to become the fastest horse in Australia, at one stage.

“Now we have three-year-olds going 1:50, it’s just incredible.

“Saturday’s night’s winner will probably need to go that fast to win. It’ll be a great race.”

Watch Titian Raider’s Breeders Challenge semi-final win below:

To view fields for Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Michael Court for HRNSW