Jack Trainor to drive Bandar

Harness racing trainer Craig Ferguson has decided to hand the reins of grey trotter Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) to Jack Trainor for Saturday’s Trotting Championship Heat at Albion Park.

“It’s a lot different over here with the stand starts. I think he’s going to be better suited with someone that knows their system. Jack is one of the top guys over here now and everyone knows and respects him. So I thought it just might make things a bit easier,” Ferguson said.

In last week’s heat Smokin Bandar who started hot favourite, received a sizable bump just after the start which put him into an early break. 

“He trotted away good and then the other horse just came out and bumped him. I don’t think many trotters would trot through that.”

When he did start to make ground on the field his chances were again compromised when a horse in front of him dislodged a track marker which flew out and hit the New Zealand trotter.

“He just had to jump over it and that buggered him up. It was just a trial in the end, but he felt nice, and he made up ground. My only concern is whether it’s knocked his confidence. If he’s in the right frame of mind and barring any accidents, he’ll handle the track alright.”

This week the heats will be run over a shorter distance of 2183 metres.

“It’s good that it’s a different start point for him so that might trick him a bit and keep his mind on the job.”

Ferguson is staying with Steve and Charlie Cini whose property between Brisbane and the Gold Coast has a pool and an 810 metre track. 

“I worked him this morning and he trotted round that track good as gold, so he seems to be trotting nice. He needed the run last weekend and was probably a bit fresh. We’ve been able to poke a bit of work into him this week. I think he’s more settled this week as well. Hopefully he can step away and have a bit of room to place him where he wants. It’ll be nice just to get him around, trotting, and (for him to) show what he’s capable of.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink