NSW young gun Will Rixon is heading to Melton on Saturday night for the first of what he hopes is a few upcoming feature race raids.
Rixon, 24, boasts over 800 wins and will sacrifice a full book of drives at Menangle to partner leading contender, the Courtney Laker-trained Miss Ohana in the $125,000 Nutrien Equine 3YO Trotting Fillies’ final.
Remarkably, it may be his only drive on the night.
“I decided about a year back, I’d chase the big races whenever I got the opportunity and this is an example,” Rixon said.
“Sure, I could have had a stack more drives at Menangle, but this race has good prize money and I think filly will be right in from the draw (gate two).”
Miss Ohana, who ran third place in the Group 1 NSW Trotters’ Oaks four starts back, easily won her heat when Rixon made the trip to Bendigo last Friday, but her time was much slower than the exciting Jess Tubbs-trained Tracy The Jet in the other heat.
“It’s really important we’re drawn better (gate two) than Tracy The Jet (three). My filly should lead and that’s our only real chance to beat the other filly,” Rixon said.
“Miss Ohana is a big type who likes to bowl along and she felt terrific leading throughout in the heat.”
Rixon hopes Saturday night is a forerunner to returning to drive Miss Ohana in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Oaks at Melton on October 18.
“I’d like to think I’ll be back down to drive old Max (star pacer Max Delight) in the Victoria Cup on that same night,” he said.
Max Delight, who finished a close-up and luckless fifth in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle, will be chasing his second Victoria Cup win, but the first was way back in 2021.
“Sure Thing Captain stopped in front of him at a crucial time, we lost momentum and I think it cost us winning. He was only beaten a metre,” he said.
“The old boy is absolutely flying. ‘Aikey’ (trainer David Aiken) will give him another run or two at Menangle then head down for the Victoria Cup.
“I know it means taking on big guns again (Leap To Fame and Swayzee), but he’s never raced better and he’s so tough and consistent.”
Rixon is also optimistic about the future with the Geoff Webster-trained Seathestars, who drove into sixth spot in last Saturday night’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle.
“He ran well and, as we said before the race, he’s going to be better again in six to 12 months,” he said.
“He was only beaten five metres and I love that he’s going for a break now rather than chasing the Victoria Derby.
“He’s come a long way this campaign and with a good break now, I’m sure he’ll come back and be a big chance in races like the Chariots Of Fire and Rising Sun next season.”
Victoria Cup favourite Leap To Fame is pleasing trainer-driver Grant Dixon with his progress towards a racetrack return.
“He’ll trial the week after next and then we’ll look to give him two lead-up runs here (Albion Park) before heading to Victoria,” he said.
PHOTOS: Club Menangle/Pacepix
