Welcome home a winner for James

If New South Wales harness racing trainer driver James McPherson needed any reassurance that he’d made the right move relocating back to the Riverina, it certainly came on Saturday night (Sept 3) in the form of promising two-year-old El Camino (American Ideal).

The striking-looking colt posted an impressive win in the Woodlands Stud 2YO Pace at Melton, showing that his 45-metre victory the previous week (Aug 23) at Leeton was no flash in the pan.

“I think he’s a pretty nice horse and I’d planned to perhaps take him back up to Menangle this weekend,” said McPherson, who only a month ago moved from Camden, near Menangle.

“But the race up there didn’t look like standing up, so I entered him for Melton as well, and it only had six runners too but thankfully went ahead,” he said.

“It’s good being in the Riverina, because you’re in the middle – you do have options to race either at Menangle or Melton with the better ones, and the stakemoney at Wagga is getting better and better.  There are also some good races on the half-mile tracks where they’re not quite as strong.”

The 21-year-old drove El Camino a treat at Melton, landing him in the one-one where the pacer settled beautifully, then let down around the home corner to power home, scoring by 10 metres, with a final quarter of 27.2 (MR 1:55.3).

The beautifully bred youngster is now looking a bargain buy at $13,000 at the 2021 Nutrien Yearling Sales for McPherson and his dad Steve.

His dam Morgan Abby won the Victorian Gold Chalice (3YO fillies) at Melton in 2010 and was placed in the Australian Pacing Gold at Menangle in the same year, finishing her racing career with 10 wins and more than $100,000 in earnings.  She has also produced well in the breeding barn, with all seven of her progeny to race being winners, including Morgan Art (Art Major); Exciter (Art Major); Sir Roman (Somebeachsomewhere) all with nine wins; and Supreme Stride (Art Major) 5 wins.

El Camino has now won three of his five starts.

“He wasn’t the best of types at the sale, but, typical American Ideal, he’s developed into a nice-looking little horse now – he’s a really flashy looking little thing,” McPherson said.

“He has got a few issues with manners at times, but he does have plenty of speed, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” he said.

McPherson, who grew up in the Riverina, has returned home to work with his sister and fellow trainer Brooke McPherson and partner Thomas Gilligan, at the couple’s new property at Henty, 60 kilometres north of Albury.

“Brooke’s now got around 15 or 16 in work and with Thomas pretty busy with his farrier work as well, they needed a bit of a hand,” McPherson said.

“It works pretty well. Brooke and I get on well. We do have our moments sometimes, and now that we’re working closely together that can happen, but I’m really enjoying being back here,” he said.

“Brooke and Thomas have got a lot of plans for their place over the next six months or so and they’ve got a big team in work so it’ll be a busy time.

“I’ve got five in work at the moment, and I’d love to build that back up to 10 or so.  El Camino’s certainly the nicest one I have in my stable at the moment, but I’m also looking forward to getting Alanza (Well Said) back to the races.  She finished runner up in a heat of the Vicbred 2yo last season and has won five, so I think she will do a job for us too.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink