21 December 2020 | HRNSW MEDIA
NO doubt former Australian trainer Shane Tritton will be tuning in with plenty of interest from the US on Tuesday when the starter hits the ‘go’ button on Race 3 at Menangle.
That’s because the seven-race card will boast some extra interest with the return to the track of outstanding pacer Muscle Factory.
Regarded as one of the better horses in his stable before Tritton and his wife Lauren made the momentous call to head for New York to ply their trade, they were forced to leave Muscle Factory behind, which must have made their decision to depart just that little bit more difficult.
With seven wins from just 14 starts, Tritton signalled that this son of Roll With Joe was going to be something special.
Muscle Factory confirmed that status when he shattered the magical 1:50 barrier, rating a slashing 1:49.6 in scoring at Menangle at the start of 2019.
Tritton then took him to Victoria where he defeated the likes of star Kiwi Im Anothermasterpiece and boom Victoria Lochinvar Art in the Victoria Derby, leading all the way in an awesome performance.
Defeats in a heat and final of the NSW Derby resulted in Muscle Factory heading for a lengthy spell, during which the Trittons left our shores.
So, when Muscle Factory was ready to come back into work, the owners decided to stick with the strength and sent him to the powerful Craig Cross-Luke McCarthy team to fulfil that potential.
Cross has taken plenty of time to bring Muscle Factory back and working with so many good horses at their Cobbitty stable is paying dividends as Muscle Factory returned to Menangle two weeks ago and cruised to a 19-metre trial win over Kenny Said and Manhattan Island, rating a leisurely 1:54.2.
His return to racing at that track on Tuesday is the undoubted highlight of the seven-race card, which should again see McCarthy add to his amazing tally of 229 winners in the sulky this season.
Besides Muscle Factory, McCarthy will be aboard two other short-priced favourites in One Night Out (Race 2) and The Croupier (Race 4).
One Night Out has won four from five since joining the Cross stable and after a three-month freshen-up should be too good for his rivals.
Likewise, The Croupier finished an unlucky second at Newcastle before scoring a strong win at Menangle last week and should go on with the job again.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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