Top racecaller is on a high

It is not every day that a racecaller gets to experience the thrill of calling their own horse winning a race, especially at a metropolitan meeting.

But for New South Wales’ premier harness racing caller Fred Hastings, it has become a regular occurrence with Heaven On High, a pacer part-owned by him continuing to rack up victories at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

Hastings is part of Brendan Micallef’s BPM Bloodstock group that races the five-year-old gelding and admits that he is on the crest of wave, enjoying the experience of owning a share in a handy pacer to watch competing each week.

Trained by David Thorn who boasts one of the best winning strike rates of any trainer in Sydney, Heaven On High has now won five races at headquarters, with last Saturday’s effort potentially his best effort yet, coming from midfield with a barnstorming run to score clearly, rating 1:54.5 for the 2300 metre journey.

“I am enjoying the ride immensely,” said Hastings.

“David is doing a great job with the horse, he is racing in a great vain and hopefully can continue to do so into the future.

“Win, lose or draw, it is a joy to have a horse that is racing competitively each week.

“It is also great to be part of such a good bunch of owners headed by Brendan. We all come from different walks of life but enjoy the thrill together when our fella races.”

HEAVEN ON HIGH REPLAY

Heaven On High will take a slight step up in grade when he races at Menangle on Saturday night but given his recent efforts, must be respected.

Regular driver Jack Trainor is unable to take the reins this weekend so the void will be filled by Blake Fitzpatrick.

But after coming up with a wide gate nine draw, Heaven On High will have it all to do.

Hastings will be calling an eight-race program at Penrith tonight with the Download The TAB App Pace starting proceedings at 6.10pm.

Bathurst reinsman Mitch Turnbull is making a rare trip to Penrith where he will partner two runners for Meadow Flat trainer Graham Bullock.

Well known for having the ‘tooth’ prefix attached to the names of his horses, the retired Dentist trains a small team of pacers from his property and has Tooth On A Roll (race 1) and Billies Tooth (race 6) engaged tonight.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW