27 December 2018 | AMANDA RANDO
WITH the goal of driving 100 winners before he turns 18 reinsman Will Rixon could achieve that.
The Sydney driver has driven 99 winners so far and will celebrate his milestone Birthday tomorrow.
“It’s always been a long goal of mine to drive 100 winners before I turn 18 so we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” said Rixon.
With five drives on the seven-race card at Penrith tonight, Rixon is hoping he can breakthrough to the centurion ranks in the opening race.
Rixon has been assigned the drive on the James Rando-trained Southbound Train.
“I’m pretty confident in Southbound train,” said Rixon.
“He can do things wrong but goes well when he puts it all together and he has found a suitable race.”
If Southbound Train is not the one to catapult Rixon to his century then the young driver believes his next best chance is De Santa Anna in race three.
“De Santa Anna should run a good race,” said Rixon.
“Fingers crossed.”
And if Rixon’s win does not happen tonight, he has booked five drives at Bankstown tomorrow night.
It will be a big week Rixon as he has also landed his first Group drive in Saturday night’s Inter City Pace Final at Maitland’s TAB Carnival of Cups meeting.
“It’s exciting that I got the call to drive Pocket Of Terror in the Final,” said Rixon.
“I missed out on driving him a few weeks ago at Newcastle because I was stuck in traffic and I didn’t get to drive him in the Inter City Pace heat last week because I was suspended.
“I watched his run and he looked impressive winning his heat.”
Pocket Of Terror is the $4 TAB Fixed Odds second favourite in the feature with the Kevin Pizzuto-trained Persimon the $2.60 elect.
“Drawing barrier one would have been better but barrier two is the next best,” said Rixon.
“It’s good to draw inside the main dangers.
“It’s a strong race with a few winning chances . . . Kevin Pizzuto’s horse was impressive in his heat, Ashark copped a lot of heat and didn’t have the race run to suit but still won his heat well, you have to respect Benalong Valley from barrier one and The Bus off the back line goes well too.”
The 56th Inter City Pace Final is scheduled for 9:45pm this Saturday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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