Issued on: 27 January 2010

DAY CAN'T WAIT FOR NIGHTS AT MENANGLE

Goulburn trainer Neil Day is looking forward to being a part of Friday's meeting at Tabcorp Park Menangle when the lights will be turned on for the first time at a race meeting on the 1400 metre track. Day will have two runners in the Golden Mile with Magic Operative and Saint William to represent the stable but Day can't hide his enthusiasm for the future.

"It's great to be a part of the meeting at Menangle on Friday night but to be honest I can't wait for the metropolitan racing to be moved there fulltime" Day said.

"Everyone knows how good the track is and hopefully it's sooner rather than later that all the big races are run under lights at Menangle rather than Harold Park."

Day will drive Magic Operative in the $20,000 feature and while he has drawn barrier ten it's hard to ignore that the five year old is undefeated at Tabcorp Park after four runs. His last victory was at Menangle in July when he easily accounted for his rivals including the talented Cant Bluff Me.

"Obviously the barrier is going to make it very difficult on Friday night and there are a number of good horses engaged in the race but he does race particularly well on the big track and he is much fitter after his recent racing."

Magic Operative resumed from a spell at Goulburn less than two weeks ago and finished fourth behind Karloo Mick and Lonestar Legend and while he finished seventh at his most recent appearance Day was very happy with the effort.

"I was really happy with the way he worked home last start after getting shuffled back along the pegs. His last 100 metres was very encouraging and it should have topped him off nicely because he really stretched out to the line."
"His first run back from a spell was very pleasing because he did chase home two horses that competed in the Miracle Mile and he certainly wasn't disgraced."

Day is hoping Magic Operative can squeeze into next month's Inter Dominion series. The gelding is ranked 43rd currently and a win this week would boost his chances of securing a spot.

"We're heading towards the Inter Dominion at this stage and he is going to have to perform well at his next two runs to make sure he moves up the order. The horse has always had ability and it's hard to ignore the series when it's in your own backyard."

Next month's Canberra Cup looms as Magic Operative's next target.

"At this stage we will go to Canberra next for the cup and then we will be in a better position to work out whether he will start in the Inter Dominion."

The stable's other runner in the Golden Mile, Saint William has drawn gate two and his recent efforts have pleased Day.

"He has been going really well lately and he is another one of my horses that has a good record at Menangle."

The six year old has had ten starts on the track and has won four times with four second placings strengthening the record.

"He has been racing really well with a sit at Harold Park and I have been pleased with the way my daughter Amy has been driving him."

"We didn't nominate him for the Inter Dominion because I thought he might be half a step behind the very top ones but on the way he has been racing lately I think he would be competitive."
The Golden Mile is race five at Tabcorp Park on Friday night with the meeting hosting nine events. The first race is scheduled for 7pm.

SHOCKING DRAW FOR KARLOO MICK IN THE BALLARAT CUP

Dubbo trainer Barry Lew isn't too stressed about drawing barrier thirteen for Saturday night's Ballarat Cup with his millionaire pacer Karloo Mick. Lew has used Greg Bennett as the gelding's driver since last year's Inter Dominion series and believes the worry and pressure is all on the reinsman.

"That's why guys like Greg are called professional drivers because they can win from anywhere in the draw" Lew said.

"All barrier thirteen means is that we are going to have to put him into the race at some stage and whether that's early or late I will leave it up to Greg plus it means we are one race closer to drawing a good barrier!"

Karloo Mick is lining up for his second run in seven days after finishing fourth behind Tanabi Bromac in last week's Shepparton Cup and Lew is very happy with the way the nine year old has recovered from the run.

"He had to do a fair bit of work last week and I was very happy with how he moved into the race at around the 400 metre mark on Saturday. He showed good speed to race up to the leaders and wasn't beaten all that far."

"His work since has been very good, in fact he worked very strongly this morning and he is eating and drinking so I couldn't be happier."

Normally Lew heads to the beach in preparation for feature events with Karloo Mick when he is away from his Dubbo base but he couldn't find anything suitable in Victoria.
"If I wanted to use the beach about the only option was to take him to Geelong but there were a few restrictions on when he could use the beach because of the tides so he is working at Sheron Park near Shepparton and the facilities here are brilliant."

"Up until now I have had the track to myself but John McCarthy is due in this afternoon (Wednesday) with Be Good Johnny. The track he is working on is about 1200 metres and is beautiful and soft so he is enjoying it."

Lew plans to start in next week's Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley before heading back to Nelson Bay in preparation for the Inter Dominion. Lew worked Karloo Mick on the beach at Nelson Bay in the lead up to the gelding's third in last year's Miracle Mile.

The Ballarat Cup is race seven on Saturday night and will start at 10pm.