AMANDA RANDO | @Amanda_Rando
ONE man’s loss is another man’s gain.
That is the case for New Zealand native reinsman Jack Trainor this week.
Not only did the suspension of his boss, Blake Fitzpatrick, allow Trainor to reach a special milestone but it has also given him the opportunity to drive in some extra feature races.
While making his name as a freelance reinsman in Sydney, Trainor also works as a stablehand at Fitzpatrick’s stable which provided the 22-year-old with the first leg of a winning treble at Menangle on Tuesday.
Trainor drove the trotting filly Saxon Rose which gave the young reinsman his 200th winner in the sulky.
“It was great to get 200 winners,” Trainor said.
“I was sitting on 199 winners for a while and started to think I was jinxed so it was a relief to finally pass the milestone.”
And that relief was evident as it was not long after that Trainor drove his second winner that day for the Fitzpatrick stable with the mare Helens Bonus.
Trainor then completed his hat-trick when winning with the Wayne Dimech-trained Macca Kelly.
“I’ve driven trebles before but it’s been a good while, especially driving one at Menangle,” Trainor said.
“It was a good day.”
Trainor is hoping this in-form run continues through to the weekend as he makes his first trip to Wagga Wagga.
With the Wagga Club hosting its TAB.COM.AU Carnival Of Cups meeting on Saturday night, Trainor will be driving in three of the features on the program.
The first is the Fitzpatrick-trained Maxentius in the Wagga Derby.
“I spoke to Blake and I’ll be driving his horses at Wagga on Saturday night and I’m looking forward to it because I have never been to Wagga before,” Trainor said.
“I’ll drive Maxentius in the Debry and he is a horse with ability and just missed out on qualifying for the New South Wales Derby.”
Maxentius finished fifth to Vincent in his respective NSW Derby heat and Vincent went on to win the $200,000 Final at Menangle last Saturday night.
Trainor’s next drive for the Fitzpatrick stable is Shez Sugarsweet in the Wagga Oaks.
The Somebeachsomewhere filly has won her two starts this season.
“Shez Sugarsweet is a really nice filly and I’m looking forward to driving her again,” Trainor said.
Trainor has also landed a drive in the major feature at Wagga on Saturday night, the Group 3 Wagga Cup.
He will drive the Shane Sanderson-trained Tijuana Bromac.
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