22 November 2022 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL COURT
FRESH from a winning double at Menangle on Saturday night, Southern Highlands trainer James Rattray will be looking for another ‘pair’ at Menangle this afternoon.
And he has looked to up-and-coming young driver Taylah Osmond to help put him on the right track.
Osmond, the daughter of leading ACT driver Scotty Osmond, will partner the handy four-year-old Gordons Bay for Rattray in Race 8, where he has been installed an early $2.75 favourite.
Taylah finished a close second with Gordons Bay behind Scared Stiff at his last start and although the pair are drawn wide on the track today, still shape as the ones to beat.
Rattray is also hoping for some success with lightly-raced gelding Morris Brown, a $3 equal favourite with the unraced My Ultimate Carter in Race 2.
Morris Brown has only had the three starts, with a third placing at Goulburn his best effort so far, although he has been to the trials seven times as he is slowly learning what this racing caper is all about.
Meanwhile Sydney’s most powerful harness racing stable, Belinda and Luke McCarthy are gearing up for a triple play at this year’s Inter Dominion, which begins at Ballarat in Victoria this weekend.
Their three stable stars, Expensive Ego, Spirit Of St Louis and Alta Orlando are all contesting the $500,000 series, which will be run at four different tracks this year, Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong with the Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
“They’ve all earned their shot,” said Luke McCarthy.
“Expensive Ego’s Victoria Cup run was too bad to be true. It was a real head scratcher.
“Since then he’s come back home, won a race and trialled well the other day so we think we have him back to his best for the Inters.
“Alta Orlando is always so consistent and has certainly earned his chance.
“While Spirit Of St Louis resumed the other day and Jack Callaghan drove him a treat.
“He didn’t need a gut buster but Jack had him in the one-out and one-back trail and he won well.
“The three heat runs should top him off nicely for the final.
“It really feels like just yesterday that we were contesting last year’s Inter Dom but here we are again and all three are healthy and sound and are at least as good as there were last year.
“And hopefully we can go a touch better this year.”
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