Ford back in the sulky after footy injury

After being sidelined from the sulky for the past three weeks, reinsman Dylan Ford returns to the harness racing sulky on Sunday night’s bumper 10-race card in Launceston.

Ford, a playing coach for the New Norfolk Football Club, recently coached the club to its first seniors win in 742 days. However, he also recently sustained a spiral fracture in his hand, which resulted in three weeks off driving.

And he has a nice drive waiting for him. Smooth Machete (Ultimate Machete) in the opening race, the Pacing For Pink Stakes (1680m).

He was crowned the Tasmanian Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding of the Year last season. Smooth Machete was scratched from a recent race in Hobart, where his trainer, Mark Reggett, told tasracing.com.au that he was aiming the Ultimate Machete gelding towards the better three-year-old races like the Globe Derby and Tasmanian Derby.

Ford is looking forward to the drive, and he drove the pacer in trackwork several months ago.

“I hoppled him three months ago, so he has been up a while. Mark and Kelly (Reggett) have taken a slow approach with him. It is interesting he hasn’t trialled, so they must be happy he is forward enough, and there is plenty to come for him in the next six to eight weeks,” said Ford.

In the night’s feature race, the $20,000 Launceston Mile (1680m) Ford takes the drive on Lynryd Skynryd, who was only 5.3m behind Mickey Oh in a similar race in Hobart two starts ago when sixth.

“He has the gate speed to challenge (for the lead), but whether he crosses or not, I’m not too sure. I reckon Steve (Lukac, the pacer’s trainer) would want to hold a forward position.

“He is better over the mile, especially if he can lead. It can be hard with Mickey Oh and those horses off the back row. If we can lead and run a half in 56.0s, it takes a pretty special one to run you down, so if he can lead, he can be hard to beat,” said Ford.

Of his remaining drives, Ford gave Ideal Son in race eight a chance.

The former Victorian pacer has had four starts in the state for a first-up win at Carrick Park on 10 March, and he has been placed in his three starts since.

“He has been a tad disappointing. He was good at Carrick. In that run, he got softened up, and he got a touch vulnerable late.

“He should be able to dictate the race. The two horses hardest to beat have drawn inside and outside of me, so tactics will be interesting as I can dictate it a bit early,” said the driver.

Sunday’s 10-race card commences at 17:16.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing