Ford ready for the challenge at Menangle

Young Tasmanian harness racing reinsman Mitchell Ford admits driving at the roomy Menangle circuit today (May 16) will be a lot different to driving around the tiny 607m Burnie track in his home state.

Still the 19-year-old is champing at the bit after being offered a golden opportunity by leading Menangle trainer Jason Grimson.

Ford won both the junior and senior driver’s title in Tasmanian last season.

Yet he was stunned when he took a telephone call out of the blue from Grimson offering him a start on the Sydney harness scene.

And he’ll me out to make a quick mark there today when he has his first two drives for the Grimson stable and has also picked up an ‘outside’ drive for trainer Leon Jurd as well.

Grimson has shown his faith in the young reinsman by giving him the steer on Princess Leia (Rock N Roll Heaven), the $3.50 favourite for Race 6 at Club Menangle today.

Possessed with a brilliant turn of foot, the Brittany Graham-owned mare has a brilliant turn of foot and might give Ford his first Menangle winner.

He then hops aboard another great chance in Hereshecomessassy (Bettor’s Delight), who is chasing a hat-trick of wins when she goes around in Race 7 as the $4 second favourite.

“Yes, that phone call from Jason came out of the blue,” Ford told National Trotguide’s Mike Ko’cass.

“My brother Nathan has been friends with Jason and Jack Trainor for some time.

“I had just lost my claim at home and Jason rang me out of the blue one day and wondered if I was interested in coming up.

“I was pretty surprised, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t knock back.

“The facilities here at Menangle are state-of-the-art and it’s great racing here.

“I had some great opportunities back home and a lot of the little trainers trusted me with my horses.

“I also worked at Andy and Kate Gath’s in Victorian for eight months a couple of years back.

“It was when Catch A Wave was coming up as a two-year-old so that was pretty cool.

“I learned a lot about how to read races and they sure put in the hours.

“Now I just want to make the most of my chances here in Sydney,” he said.

“It will be a lot different driving from driving at Burnie to driving here and I can’t wait for the challenge.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for Harness Racing New South Wales