There will be plenty of new looks in tonight’s Mildura racing, with the debut of region-based racing in the Sunraysia producing some new pairings including a big book of drives for Jason McGinty.

The local trainer-driver joined Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden on today’s Talking Trots On Track, and while it’s not unusual to see the McGinty name in big numbers on a Mildura program, his name doesn’t usually appear so often in the drivers’ column.

“It’s going to be interesting,” McGinty said. “There is a lot of horses going around with drivers on them that have probably never even touched them before. I’m in the same boat.”

The occurrence is a result of the move to region-based racing, a measure to limit travel for participants, in line with public health recommendations to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The change has excluded some of the drivers who regularly make a long haul to race at Mildura.

“I can’t even remember the last time I drove a horse for someone else in a race,” McGinty told SENTrack. “At the moment it comes in pretty handy with everything that’s going on, a little bit of extra money will come in very handy, that’s for sure.”

McGinty has a steer in six of tonight’s eight races, of which only two he trains himself, being Rainbow Racer in race one (Euston Club Pace) and Call Me Tom in the third (Tenderprint Australia Pace).

“(Rainbow Racer’s) been going good,” McGinty said. “We will have a bit of a look and see if we can get to the front. I think Blast Away is going to be pretty hard to beat on his recent performances. I think my bloke has got a bit of a chance, especially if he can get to the front.”

He said he’d “like to think” Call Me Tom could lead from gate three.

“He’s pretty limited in ability but it’s a fairly even field and he has been going OK. He would definitely be a place chance, if things went his way he shouldn’t be too far off.”

He then follows up in race five with Good Onya for trainer Sandra O’Connor, who “when it’s on song it does go pretty good” and then in race six Penny Snatcher for Scott Garraway.

“She’s been going not to bad. I know she gets out of the gate pretty quick, but I think there’s a bit of speed inside her. That’s going to make things difficult. If she has a bit of luck and the driver can do the right thing she might not be too far off either.”

Mister Jimaringle, who he will drive for Terry Gange in the seventh, is a $4.40 chance with TAB.com.au and while McGinty said it was a “shame he’s drawn so wide, Terry’s got his going pretty good at the moment. He’d have to be a fair chance.”

He then finishes off with Bulldog Macray in the last for Sandra O’Connor, who he said could be a “bit hit and miss” but “can follow through into a good spot”.

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