Aiken returns to Menangle

10 July 2021

WITH the big guns away campaigning in Queensland, former Harold Park premiership winner David Aiken decided it might be a good time for a return trip to Menangle.

Aiken knows the Menangle track as well as anybody and has made the trip up from Victoria with several of his in-form Avenel [Victoria] stable.

While some of the best pacers in this country are doing battle in the $250,000 The Rising Sun at Albion Park, Aiken will add to the interest in the square-gaiters in Sydney at the moment with one of his stable stars, Big Jack Hammer.

The eight-year-old gelding has found Tabcorp Park Menangle a happy hunting ground in the past and among his 21 wins are a Group 1 Aquagait Mile in 2019 as well as another Group 1 Aquagait Trotters Mile there last year.

There’s no prizes for guessing who Big Jack Hammer beat in that first Aquagait Mile win; it was Tough Monarch, who will again be his main adversary at Menangle in Race 5 tonight, the Condell Park produce Trotters Mobile (2300m).

And just for good measure, among the beaten brigade in that second Trotters Mile win was none other than Drop The Hammer, Darren Hancock’s amazing six-year-old that was bred to be a pacer but decided he was more comfortable as a square-gaiter.

Despite having the better draw of the three trotters tonight, Big Jack Hammer has been installed a $7.50 third favourite behind Tough Monarch ($1.55) and Caligula ($8).

What is surprising is that David Aiken has driven Big Jack Hammer just once in his 92 starts and the astute horseman will again stand aside tonight after offering the plum drive to Menangle’s current star reinsman Jack Trainor, who will relish the chance to topple our best three trotters, Tough Monarch, Drop The Hammer and Caligula with the Victorian visitor.

Aiken will still be seen in action with a couple of handy drives at Menangle tonight.

The veteran horseman replaces Chris Alford on smart five-year-old Max Delight in Race 3 and the well-bred pacer has been installed as a $4 equal favourite with Belinda McCarthy’s Star Galleria (Jack Callaghan) over the 2300m journey.

The clash of this pair, as well as the presence of Ignatius and Loorrim Lake, make this one of the most entertaining clashes of the night.

Aiken will also be hoping to break a 10-month win drought with his five-year-old mare Divine Diva ($26) in Race 6.

 

By Michael Court