Team Tritton adds some Oz muscle

Successful harness racing husband and wife team, Shane and Lauren Tritton, who have been based in the US for nearly two years, are still pinching themselves about their latest stable acquisition.

Brilliant pacer Muscle Factory (Roll With Joe-Malena (Jeremes Jet), the first three-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere to break 1.50, has been sent over to the Tritton barn in Pine Bush, New York, by owners Clive and Rona McKay, of New Zealand.

Muscle Factory was sensational when he stopped the clock in the Simpson Memorial G2 at Menangle in 1.49-6 on January 5, 2019. Driven by Lauren Tritton, they peeled off splits of 27.1, 29.4, 26.8 and 26.3 to beat Lochinvar Art.

“I still regard him as one of the best horses-if not the very best-that we’ve ever had anything to do with,” an excited Shane Tritton said.

“We had him for a dozen starts back in Sydney and he won seven of these with four placings. I think he will be pretty comfortable racing over here in mile events on the big Meadowlands track.”

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Tritton said when he and Lauren where tossing up whether to have a crack at training in the US, a hiccup for Muscle Factory was a turning point.

“He pulled up sore after the NSW Derby at Menangle in early 2019 and that was really the last straw,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have left if he was sound and still racing. He ended up having an operation on a tendon and his breeder Jared Kahlefeldt did the early rehabilitation, and then the McCarthys took over.

“His leg looks fantastic, and he’s obviously made a great recovery because he’s been back racing at a good level. Getting him over here has been a long time coming because air flights for horses are a hard thing to get at the moment.

“We’ve been friends with the McKays for years, and they can’t wait to see their horse go around. Clive is 92 years old and I was talking to him on the phone the other day and he wants another Group One.”

Tritton purchased Muscle Factory after watching the striking colt compete in a Menangle two-year-old event.

“He was being trained by Rickie Alchin and went for a gallop at the 600metre mark. He picked himself back up and got beaten by about 20metres. That showed me how good he was,” Tritton said.

“I kept in touch with them, and we ended up getting him in mid-2018.”

Team Tritton kicked off with a win in a NSW Breeders Challenge heat with Muscle Factory, followed by a second in a semi-final and then third behind Hardhitter and Lochinvar Art in the final.

A month later a trip north to Albion Park saw wins in a heat and the rich final of the APG Gold-the winning margins being 36 and then 38 metres.

More victories came in the Simpson Memorial and then the Victorian Derby G1 Final, in the latter beating Im Anothermasterpiece and Lochinvar Art. In all of his 12 races for the Trittons, the superstar was driven by Lauren, for an impressive seven wins and four placings.

“He’s a special horse and he gets on with Lauren. She hasn’t been driving after having our baby girl, Emily (a sister for Levi). I’m hoping that she does team up with Muscle Factory again-and she did drive in some qualifyings the other day,” Tritton said.

“I could probably say that I’d hate to be the guy who gets in her way trying to pinch the drive!”

Tritton said it was a little ironic that they had ended up with both Muscle Factory and Im Anothermasterpiece, who filled the first two Derby placings.

“We’ve actually had Im Anothermasterpiece for a bit now. He had to have a leg operation and he’s ready to resume so there are certainly some exciting times ahead,” he said.

“With Winter being quite cold, we don’t race too many now.”

One of the mainstays of the Tritton team since their relocation, old timer Yayas Hot Spot (Jeremes Jet-Star Of Heaven (In The Pocket), continues to defy his years.

“He’s 12-year-old now, but his latest win was by far his best run since we’ve been over here. He’s just a great horse and since 2013 he’s won at least one race every year,” Tritton said.

“We got him from New Zealand where he’d had two unplaced runs. He won three and then Lauren started driving him. At her first drive at Menangle in a two year old race she came up against a horse named Bling It On who was sent out an odds on favorite.

“Lauren was sailing along waiting for Bling It On to sweep right on past, but when she clicked him up, they couldn’t catch him. He went on to win his first 10 for us.

“I should probably add that over the next seven years, Yayas Hot Spot may have only beaten Bling It On perhaps one other time!

“We own him with Adam Sofoulis from Perth, and he’s been an awesome horse. He won a Newcastle Mile, a number of cups including Goulburn and Penrith, ran in two Miracle Miles, was runner-up in a Hunter Cup and fourth in a Victoria Cup.”

Lauren drove Yayas Hot Spot to 20 wins in Australia, while Todd McCarthy, Jack Trainor and Lachie Manzelmann had one apiece.

While the Tritton’s are 16,000 kms away, they keenly watch as many races as they can from back in Australia.

“We’re still very interested in racing back home and keep in regular contact with family and friends,” he said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink