The Jacks are back in town

The Jacks are back in town at Menangle today (Apr., 18).

Yet it’s the two-year-old pacers that will hold the harness racing spotlight with five heats of the rich APG Gold Bullion series.

Jack Trainor returns to competition after a short holiday in the US, while Jack Callaghan is back from Perth, where he finished a close second in Friday night’s $1m Nullarbor with Spirit Of St Louis.

Trainor is straight back in the deep end when he handles beautifully-bred filly Stylish Lazarus (Lazarus), the even-money favourite in Race 2, the first of two fillies’ pacing heats.

Cameron Hart scored an easy win with Stylish Lazarus at Bathurst last month, filling in while Trainor was away.

Although well-beaten in a trial at Menangle last week, the youngster still looks the one to run down after drawing perfectly in gate one today.

Ace reinsman Luke McCarthy will combine with trainer Michael Doltoff and last-start winner Sara Ta Sloy (My General Lee) in the second fillies’ heat and she too has been installed a short-priced favourite after drawing the pole.

Sara Ta Sloy showed her promise winning the Consolation of the Bathurst Gold Tiara earlier this month with Chris Geary in the bike.

A hand injury has sidelined Geary and handed the plum drive to McCarthy for today’s heat.

“Mick has a good opinion of her and I’m sure she’ll run well,” said McCarthy.

The first of two colts and geldings’ heats of the Gold Bullion will see Rickie Alchin look to atone for a last-start defeat in the Bathurst Gold Crown with the impressive Soho Spectre (Art Major).

Soho Spectre was unbeaten going into the Bathurst feature but a second-row draw saw him trapped three and four wide for much of the race before finishing fourth to Chart Topper.

Drawn in gate three today, Soho Spectre should have little problem adding to his win tally.

Jack Callaghan will be back in action for the Belinda McCarthy stable in Race 6 when he handles second favourite Dashing (Art Major), who broke and lost all chance in his only start at Newcastle.

Trainor will be aboard the favourite Ravishing Sloy ($2.75) in the second colts and geldings’ heat and a sixth placing in the Bathurst Gold Crown should stand him in good stead for today’s assignment.

While Callaghan will be aboard first starter Chicago Bart for Team McCarthy in Race 7, Luke McCarthy drives stablemate El Franco De.

“I like the way he trialled and he keeps improving. He doesn’t have the experience but he does have ability,” said McCarthy

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for Harness Racing New South Wales