Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner James Rattray has made a successful hit and run harness racing mission to the NSW Riverina region.
Rattray, based at Exeter in the Southern Highlands, two hours south of Sydney, loaded up three of his stable members last Friday and headed to Wagga Wagga, a three and a half hour road trip.
He got the money with two of them, which punters sent out as warm favorites, and later on the program picked up a winning catch drive for fellow trainer David Kennedy.
"I've been there a few times in recent years and usually do okay. It's an easy drive down the Hume Highway and the 1000 metre track is pretty good," Rattray said.
"We were lucky last season to post a double there in two $50,000 feature races," he said.
At his latest visit to Wagga, Rattray won in consecutive events. Rossini (Mach Three-Miss Fantastic (Falcon Seelster) set the tone with an easy win in the Conquest Pools Pace, while Star Major (Art Major-Vertigal (Western Terror) was probably even more impressive with an 18 metre runaway victory in the TAB Odds and Evens Pace.
Rossini stopped the clock at 1.53-1 which set a new track record for a four-year-old, while Star Major was super impressive in 1.51-8 which broke the overall track record.
"Our other stable runner was Operative Anna who went around in the 3yo fillies heat. She galloped and was out the back, but we are battling a bit of soreness with her at the moment," Rattray said.
Rattray, who has a team of 20 horses in work, is well-known through his association with former champion Beautide. The pacer won 49 races and over $2 million including three high profile events in the 2013-14 season-the Inter Dominion Final, the Miracle Mile and the Len Smith Mile.
Rattray's Wagga driving treble came courtesy of bay gelding Mammals Prince (Rock N Roll Heaven-Mammals Rocket (Pacific Rocket) in the 3yo colts and geldings' heat for highly respected local trainer David Kennedy.
It was Rattray's first drive for Kennedy, who has been amongst the winners regularly again this year. The stable has had 53 victories for the 12-month period ending August 31 and Mammals Rock's win is among another eight for the stable since then.
"The horse went super because it was his first-up run from a spell," Rattray said.
"He hadn't been to the trials, so David certainly had him forward enough for his race appearance."
Rattray said he was thrilled in the way Star Major had come on during this extended season.
"He's only been lightly raced because we decided to really look after him. We'll sit down and pick out a few races for him to target," he said.
"We've got a few who are VicBred eligible horses and we will more than likely look toward Victoria with Star Major.
"He is raced by Dean York and family. They are very good clients who have been with me since I moved to Exeter a few years ago. They also have a lovely horse in Delightful Angel, who won at Penrith last start in a NSWBC fillies heat."
Terry Gange
NewsAlert PR Mildura