Trainor in hot demand

Ace reinsman Jack Trainor is in such hot demand that even some of our other leading harness racing drivers are asking him to drive their horses.

Trainor is taking a rare drive for one of our leading horsemen, Robbie Morris, at Tabcorp Park Menangle tonight and in his own words ‘has arrived’.

The easy-going Trainor was happy to accept the drive on seven-year-old gelding Kanena Provlima (A Rocknroll Dance), the $2.75 early favourite in Race 2 tonight.

Kanena Provlima is trained by Morris and owned by another prominent horseman in Bathurst’s Ben Settree.

“Yes, Robbie did suggest that I had finally made it in this game, because I was driving for the big names now,” joked Trainor, who heads to Menangle with drives in seven of the eight races.

Trainor pointed out that Kenana Provlima had been hitting the line strongly in free-for-all company in recent weeks.

“From what I’ve seen, it seems to be his racing pattern – to stay out of the early burn with this horse,” Trainor told National Trotguide’s Mike Ko’cass.

“Certainly I’ll be employing similar tactics tonight and I’m hoping we can finish over the top of them.”

While Kanena Provlima looks one of his best chances, Trainor will handle a few of his own stable’s stars as well.

Among those will be two serious chances in Braedos Lad ($4) in Race 1 and Stellar Arden ($4) in Race 3.

“Braedos Lad went really well last start,” he said.

“He sat outside the leader and pulled pretty hard over a quickly-run 2300m.

“It’s a pretty handy field but we’re back to the mile this week and I expect to be right in the mix tonight.”

Trainor actually has two hopes in Race 3 and while he’s aboard Stellar Arden, gun reinsman Cameron Hart will handle the stablemate Im In Trouble.

“This horse has been honest although he did over-race a bit last start in what turned into a fast-run last quarter,” he said.

“He has nice gate speed and Cam might want to try his hand from in front and if there isn’t too much pressure will be in with a real shot.

“I really like Stellar Arden and Jack Brown and Ash Hart did a great job with this mare while I was away in Queensland.

“It’s hard to split my two but maybe I lean towards Stellar Arden simply because she has a bit more high speed.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW