Scene set for feelgood Inter Dominion story with Timothy

29 November 2021

FROM time to time, fairytales in all codes of racing come to fruition and on Saturday night the scene was set for one of those feelgood stories to unfold.

In recent times the western Sydney husband and wife team of Joe and Mary Rando have concentrated their training operations on the square trotters.

Currently working a team of 15 horses at their Maraylya property, most of the Rando team, 11 in fact, are trotters.

The popular couple headed to Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night with three outsiders in the qualifying heats of the TAB Inter Dominion Trotting Championship hoping that their trio would do them proud.

In the first heat their mare Revy Jay, although beaten 23 metres, ran a satisfactory race.

Empire Bay was beaten by a similar margin in heat two, but it was four-year-old entire, Timothy Red, that sent the Randos into a frenzy when he stormed home to win by a widening three and a half metre margin.

“To say it was all a thrill would by a huge understatement,” said an exuberant Joe Rando.

“He is definitely the new kid on the block, and he really stood up to be counted on Saturday night.

“After we accepted for the series, we sat down with Rob (Davis, owner) and made a decision that we would instruct driver Cameron Hart to just sit him up off the speed and give him the experience of competing in the top-shelf racing.

“And now we have an Inter Dominion heat winner.

“It is incredibly surreal, and we are still pinching ourselves, to be honest.” 

Timothy Red, who started as a 40-1 longshot, began well but found himself racing four back on the pegs.

Rounding the home turn, he was spotting some of the series’ big guns a big start, but Hart found some gaps and Timothy Red surged to the lead to score an exciting win.

“Rob Davis is such an enthusiastic and passionate owner, and we are fortunate that he chose Mary and I to train some of his horses,” said Rando.

“It was certainly a thrill to share winning such an important race with Rob, who has put so much into the sport.

“Whatever this fellow does from here on in will be a bonus.

“But we now know that he is up to the task.”