Top reinsmen on a mercy dash to the Trot Slot

Yabby Dam principal Pat Driscoll is hoping timely scheduling of Nutrien heats at Ballarat will allow Nathan Jack to partner reigning Great Southern Star harness racing champion Callmethebreeze (Trixton) in the $575,000 Trot Slot at Cambridge in a fortnight.

Jack, who has driven Callmethebreeze in all five Australian starts, is likely to have driving engagements in the Nutrien heats at Ballarat the previous night.

Other drivers who could be impacted include Greg Sugars with Just Believe along with Chris Alford aboard Queen Elida and Chris Svanosio who will take the reins behind Arcee Phoenix.

“Callmethebreeze is racing on strange track so it’s important that Nathan is able to drive him, the race is shaping up as one of the greatest fields assembled and it deserves to have the best reinsmen driving in it,” Driscoll said.

There is a 12am midnight flight from Melbourne to Auckland scheduled on Thursday night and Ballarat Trotting Club chief executive Paul Rowse said he will work with Harness Racing Victoria to ensure the Nutrien heats are run and won early in the evening.

“To make the flight those drivers who have engagements in the Trot Slot will need to leave the meeting at 8pm and I will speak to Paul Oxenford at HRV about starting early and scheduling the Nutrien Heats at the beginning of the night,” Rowse said.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink