Yanco trainer Shane Hillier is hoping his 50-1 old timer, Medal Of Honour, can put himself in contention in the $30,000 Young Pacers Cup (2480m) on Saturday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The nine-year-old will be having his 125th race start. This campaign, he has already finished third in both the Albury Cup and last week’s Wagga Cup.
“He’s in good order, I’m very happy with the horse,” Hillier said. “Last week he sort of got held up til it was all too late by the time he got out. He wouldn’t have beaten the winner but I think he should’ve run a clear second.”
That winner, Our Triple Play, holds the aces at Young after drawing gate one, along with Brad Hewitt’s other runner Spare Me Days.
Medal Of Honour has drawn the inside of the second row, where Hillier hopes Blake Jones will be able to trail Our Triple Play.
“It’s good just to have a horse to be competitive in these big races,” Hillier said. “He’s won over a quarter of a million dollars prizemoney, he’s a good old horse. Just running places in these races is good prizemoney.”
The gelding has earned $8,670 in 10 starts this campaign, with a win and those two thirds.
Driver Blake Jones takes over from Mitchell Reese.
“It’s the first time Blake’s driven the horse,” Hillier said. “But he’s a quality driver and that won’t worry him. We’ve had a long association together, he’s probably driven 200 winners for us.”
Former Junee reinsman Cameron Hart will pilot Hezbuyindiamonds for Gavin Kelly.
While the Nathan Jack-trained Majordan is set to be a contender, after a campaign at the Interdominion in Western Australia.
“He’s first-up, coming back from the Interdominion heats,” Hillier said. “You’ve always got to respect a horse like that.
“She’s a quality field, that’s for sure.”