James Rattray’s classy pair shaping up for the Inter Dominion

Prominent trainer driver James Rattray has a strong hand in this year’s Inter Dominion Championships at Albion Park with speedy pacer Nyack (Sweet Lou)  and proven trotter London To A Brick but recent setbacks to both horses almost interrupted their campaigns.

Nyack suffered an atrial fibrillation during the running of the Riverina Championships Final at Wagga on Easter Saturday after a scintillating win in his Heat four nights prior.

“I didn’t have any inkling that this might happen” commented Rattray. “After his heat win everything seemed fine. He’d pulled up good after the run.”

“We got him home straight away and had him checked out the next morning and he was fine. We gave him a light week and then got him going again.”

“It was a relief but it’s always in the back of your head when this happens. We had one before him with that condition.”

For Rattray who is based at Exeter in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales it must have been a bit nerve wracking when after his mandatory trial that Nyack resumed almost a month later in the Bill Green Memorial Free For All at Menangle. But any doubts that Nyack had not returned to his best were quickly dispelled when the five year old stallion came with his trademark barnstorming finish to beat Kingmaker and Max Delight.

“He’s a lovely colt and he’s a dream to work with. at home he’s a bit full on. He’s got a good attitude.”

Rattray intends to give him a few more runs to keep him ticking. This should time his preparation before the first round of heats on 5 July.

“He’s well travelled and should handle Albion Park as he’s previously raced in Tasmania.”

For Rattray’s star trotter London To A Brick (Bettors Delight) the issues have been more around keeping his mind on the job. The gelding has always had above average ability and has had a habit of ruining his chances by galloping at the start or during the run.

However during the last Inter Dominion series in December at Menangle Rattray explained:

“Everything went wrong that prep. We freshened him up and tried a few things. And now he’s trotting really well.”

After winning a few trials at Menangle in February Rattray knew that London To A Brick was returning to the form that we knew of him.

Somewhat sparingly raced London To A Brick put together two wins in metropolitan class before his gallant second in the Bulli Trotters Cup at Menangle on May 17 coming off 20 metres in a capacity field of fourteen runners.

“It was only his second start from a stand. He was slowly away but safe and then had to pass a few gallopers. It was a really good effort.”

Rattray is looking forward to London To A Brick going for the Inter Dominion series.

“He races very well up there” he stated.

That statement is well justified as on previous trips to Albion Park London to A Brick was a winner and then in the following year runner up in the Great Square classic and his last big success was the Group 1 Queensland Trotters Cup in July 2024.

Rattray also has the useful pacer Bainbridge (Captain Treacherous) who won the Gold Chalice final at Bathurst two years ago as a three year old and has a fastest recorded time of 1.50.6.

Although entered for the Inter Dominion Rattray is not sure whether he’ll run in the Series.

However he has high hopes of his talented four year old Our Luciano (Sweet Lou). Previously trained by Victorian Keith Cotchin who part owns the gelding with Dennis Pangrazio, he was sent to Rattray at the beginning of this year after showing a great deal of promise in his racing.

Our Luciano won his first two starts at Menangle including a blistering burst to take out the Paleface Adios Stakes. Then in the Chariots of Fire, he came from last to finish a close fourth.

“He was really unlucky in that race” said Rattray.

Although entered for the Inter Dominion, Our Luciano may find the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park more to his liking.

“We may also consider the Eureka in early September.” This would be a huge task but such is Rattray’s high opinion of Our Luciano that if he continues to improve he would be a serious prospect to gain an Invitation for Australia’s richest harness racing event.

For Rattray who has a formidable record of big race success, the recent events with his star team has shown the fickle nature of harness racing that comes with its ups and downs. But like the professional trainer that he is, when things are right his team are right up there amongst the top performers in the country.

And at least Nyack, London To a Brick and Our Luciano will continue to make their presence felt in the main forthcoming feature events in the country.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink