Rando lands his first Menangle double

Sydney reinsman Lucas Rando is finishing off the 2023 harness racing season with a flurry and on Tuesday afternoon the 21-year-old landed a winning double at Tabcorp Park Menangle – just for good measure.

The double took his career total to 42 wins and with this state’s current national rating system conditions favouring the use of junior drivers, Rando’s five-point claim is providing him with plenty of opportunities to gain drives from trainers in the metropolitan area.

His double on Tuesday was a result of two well-timed drives, with Rando summing up the scenarios perfectly to have both winners hitting top gear just at the right time on the challenging Menangle circuit.

His first winner was aboard the square trotter Monarch Stride, a gelding trained by Rando’s uncle and aunty, Joe and Mary Rando in Race 3, before he took out the final race with the David Hewitt-prepared pacer Raging Sea.

“It is always a confidence booster to land a double anywhere,” said Rando.

“But to be able to get one at Menangle was awesome and very satisfying.

“Since the introduction of the new conditions surrounding concession drivers came in to play, I have picked up a lot more drives and I am doing my best to take advantage of the situation.

“It gives young blokes like me a great opportunity to get drives on some nice horses.

“I have been jumping at the chance to accept every drive offered to me, putting everything into it to get the best results that I can for owners and trainers.”

And Rando explained that he was willing to travel anywhere in the state, despite being based in western Sydney.

“That is certainly my next mission,” he said.

“I am keen to go beyond the Sydney basin and drive at tracks throughout regional New South Wales.

“I feel like that would open some new doors for me, and the experience gained from doing it would be invaluable.”

Rando has four drives at Penrith tonight and although some have drawn poorly he believes he can get into the mix.

Swedish Meatballs has drawn ideally in gate one in Race 4 and appears to be Rando’s best winning chance.

The four-year-old mare last won at Penrith on October 19 and her five runs since have been quite respectable, including a last-start third at Goulburn in a fast-run race.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW