Things are going to be pretty quiet at Jason McGinty’s Merbein South stables mid-Sunday, with all nine of the trainer’s horses nominated to compete at Mildura.
With some nice barrier draws, McGinty is looking forward to a super Sunday, with a big hand that represents the continual build his stable has enjoyed in recent years.
“It’s going to be busy, they will keep us on our toes. Hopefully things will work out all right,” McGinty said. “At the end of the day, it’s nice when you have a good day and can sit back and think ‘we’ve done well’.”
He had one of those days last Thursday at Mildura, when McGinty entered eight horses and departed the track with a win (Givsirabone), two second placings, two thirds and a fourth.
It is nothing new for those attending the track at Mildura Showgrounds to see the name McGinty prominent among the winners’ circle.
“Dad (Brian) had been in it for years, so pretty much from the start I was also involved,” McGinty said.
“I learned to drive as early as I could, but the last four years have probably been the most horses I’ve had, most of which I own.”
Many were bred by McGinty’s uncle, Gary, and that family loyalty stretches beyond the two-legged variety. Wrinkle Knutt, who is co-owned by McGinty’s wife, Natasha, is a 10-year-old of 243 starts and “he’s pretty much part of the family”.
The stable’s continual expansion reflects the trainer’s love for the sport and chase of that winning feeling. A courier by trade, the “hobby trots trainer” said he would love to train full-time but being tucked away in Victoria’s beautiful north-west comes with its challenges.
“Where we are is probably not ideal, because you don’t have a big choice of meetings and the travel can be too much,” he said. “So if you have to put them all in (on one day), you put them all in. I class it as a hobby, because I work as well, but ideally I would like to get into it full-time.”
It’s an avenue that could open with a stroke of luck.
“It’s just the hope that one day you will get that really good one,” he said. “These days, if you do get a good one it can set you up for life pretty quickly.
“For now, consistency is one thing I think is key, that when you take a truckload of horses to the track and most of them earn a good cheque you can walk away happy.”
JASON MCGINTY OUTLINES HIS NINE HORSES’ CHANCES ON THE STABLES’ SUPER SUNDAY
Race 1 No. 1: Left For Ron
“It is a good draw for him, because he is drawn behind the likely leader. He is probably a place chance. The last time he was drawn there he ran third, which was before I got him. I thought he went all right last run and if behind the leader he should get a good crack at them and may be a chance.”
Race 2 No. 2: Maceymia
“I’m not sure how she will go. I think she goes OK. Last week (her first start) she got too far back. I’m hopeful from there she can get out of her gate all right and may be some place chance.”
Race 5 No. 10: Givsirabone
“He’s going good, but it’s going to be hard. There are a couple of pretty good horses on the front line. The Dapper Don looks the likely leader and a short distance specialist, so that will probably make it difficult. If Givsirabone runs top five he has probably done pretty well.”
Race 5 No. 11: Maywyns Storm
“He has drawn badly and from there it will be tough. He is only new to the stable. He is one run back from a spell and this will be tough.”
Race 6 No. 1: Youvegottobelieveit (em)
“If Youvegottobelieveit can get a start in this one I think she should lead and win.”
Race 6 No. 5: Wrinkle Knutt
“Old Wrinkle Knutt has been going OK, but once again has drawn a terrible draw for him. He will have to go back, as usual, probably be last at the bell and then driven for luck.”
Race 7 No. 1: Cityscape
“Cityscape went really good last start. I was quite surprised by his effort. He will probably place behind the leader and get a good crack at them.”
Race 7 No. 2: Fineandsunny
“She will hold the front and go pretty close. She goes pretty good in front providing she’s on song, but every now and then she can throw in a bad one.”
Race 8 No. 2: Youvegottobelieveit (em)
“Like in race six, if she gets a start I think she would go pretty close. I couldn’t see her leading this one, True Character began like a rocket last start. Youvegottobelieveit is pretty tough and even if she ended up outside she could go pretty close.”
Race 8 No. 6: Ellehigh
“She went better last run. From this draw it is going to be difficult. She will probably go forward and see if she can slot in, if not she will drop back and that would make it pretty hard for her.”
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