Barron duo ready for race day

Star southern three-year-old Bring On The Muscle (Majestic Son) will start telling harness racing trainer Clark Barron about his future endeavours at Winton on Thursday.

The Barron stable lines up two horses in the talented three-year-old trotter and the more than handy maidener Always On Sale (Always B Miki), both bred and owned by the trainer’s wife Jackie.

Bring On The Muscle looks to have returned in excellent order ahead of what should be a big spring campaign judging by his recent workouts.

“He seems to have come up well and he is telling us he is ready to go to the races again,” Barron said.

A $2.50 favourite, Bring On The Muscle looks to land in a winnable race at Winton in the Goodman Plumbing Limited Handicap Trot, however Barron is wary about the challenge of racing hardy older horses.

“You have to remember he is only a three-year-old and it is never easy racing the older horses.”

“Those older horses are hardened and have been there and done that.”

“But we have been happy with him and he is bright and well.”

Bring On The Muscle has a Group 1 placing to his name, with his big performance on Grand Prix Day at Addington last year.

Whether he will get the chance to return to the top level will be up to the horse himself.

“He will race the Williamson horses down here and we will get a line on him.”

“I’d say he will head to the Hambletonian at Labour Weekend.”

“If he is going well enough, we will take it from there.”

Always On Sale looked an above-average maiden when placing in two of his four starts for Barron last year.

The pacer will return to racing in the Ryal Bush Transport Mobile pace after a break from racing due to a series of minor issues.

“He is a pretty nice maiden but he hasn’t raced for 11 months.”

“He had one wee niggle after another, but lately he’s the best he has been.”

Blair Orange takes the reins behind Always On Sale while Brent Barclay reunites with Bring On The Muscle on Thursday.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand