Young driver eyes off Group 1 features

He’s just turned 21, yet Newcastle harness racing horseman Jack Callaghan heads to Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday (Oct. 29) eyeing at least two Group 1 winners on a stellar program.

Callaghan has been entrusted with the drives on two of trainer Cameron Ross’s stable stars in the rich Breeders Challenge finals.

Top of the tree is Steno (Sweet Lou), who has come up with the perfect draw in Race 3, the three-year-old fillies’ final, where she has been installed the $1.75 early favourite over stablemate Ideal In Dreams (Warrawee Needy) ($4.50).

A little over an hour later, Callaghan will be hoping to celebrate a big double when he hops behind smart youngster Peaceful (Sweet Lou) in the two-year-old fillies’ final, also for Ross.

She has been installed a $1.65 favourite after drawing gate one in her Breeders Challenge final.

“I would probably have preferred to draw gates two, three or four with Peaceful,” Callaghan told National Trotguide’s Mike Ko’cass.

“Drawn in gate one sort of forces your hand a bit.

“It’s not the easiest gate to get out of, but I’d certainly prefer to be there than gate 10, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Peaceful finished a little over three metres behind the Emma Stewart-trained Major Delight in the semi-final last week after being forced to race outside of the Victorian.

Callaghan admitted he wanted to hold the front and not give Major Delight that same advantage tonight and he hopes a role reversal will see a reversal of the placings.

“My filly never gave up in the semi, so I’m hoping she can get the job done,” he said.

The young reinsman still rates Steno as his best chance on the 10-race program.

“I’ve stuck with her throughout her whole career so I really had no hesitation in choosing her over Ideal In Dreams, even though she is going really well too,” he said.

“Steno’s been ultra-consistent her whole career against some top-class fillies, so I hope she can prevail.

“Ideally, we would like to lead, but there is heaps of speed drawn to our outside with horses like Madrid, who’ll come out humming.

“But if we don’t find the front I am not overly concerned because she’s so versatile and I expect she’ll run a top race no matter where she settles.”

Callaghan will also drive former Miracle Mile placegetter Alta Orlando ($34) in Race 7, the Group 1 Len Smith Mile for Belinda McCarthy.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW