Three mates’ investment into a horse was even more so an investment in young and talented driver Jayden Barker.
Bootleg Bert will step out in tonight’s Active Electrical Trotters Handicap at Ballarat for trainer Paul Green, who joined Talking Trots on SENTrack to preview the race, which streams on Trots Vision at 5.57pm.
Tonight is the six-year-old trotter’s third start for Green and co-owners Robert Sherren and Leon Stewart, who snapped up Bootleg Bert for a bit of fun and to give concession driver Barker a challenging squaregaiter to steer.
“He’s an honest horse,” Green said. “He’s a difficult horse to drive, that was one of the reasons that we got him, because we were trying to give young Jayden some experience in driving a trotter and a difficult trotter just to help his career along.
“(Jayden) certainly has (got good ability) and he’s learning all the time. The opportunity came along with Bootleg Bert just for him to get some more experience and that will just be another string to his bow I believe.”
A part-time trainer of 40 years, Green has upped his trots work since retirement and now, as well as training his own, “spends half his day” working at David Miles’ flourishing Monegeeta stables, often alongside Sherren and Stewart.
“They come and help Milesy down here and (Bootleg Bert) gives all three of us an interest in the horse,” Green said.
“It’s good fun down here. We all have a bit of a laugh and nobody takes anybody too serious. It’s a great spot to work.”
A seven-time winner, Bootleg Bert finished ninth in his first two starts for Green before a last start second at Shepparton.
Green said tonight’s “race is a bit tougher than it was the other night at Shepparton,” but he gave his gelding a show.
“I think he would be a good each-way bet tonight. Our biggest problem is he can be a little unreliable, if Jayden as he has learned is able to keep him trotting all the way we I think we will end up close to the pointy end.”
TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:
Join Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden from 11am to 1pm weekdays Talking Trots on SENTrack on 1593AM in Melbourne, 1539AM in Sydney, 657AM in Perth, 801AM in Gosford, 96.9FM in Ingham, 99.1FM in Atherton and 1575AM in Wollongong.
Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.
TUNE IN at BALLARAT
First Race: 5.24pm Last Race: 9.03pm
Host/Racecaller: Dan Mielicki.
Trots Vision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: WATCH LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
ROB AUBER ON BALLARAT
R6: RADIO BALLARAT PACE
EARLY SPEED:
2, 5
SELECTIONS:
YANKEE GOLD (2) MY BETTOR LADY (7) DEADLY ASSASSIN (6) DELWYNS SON (1)
RATINGS:
2 / 7 / 6 / 1 / 5 / 3 / 4
SUGGESTED BET:
YANKEE GOLD (2) to Win
For tips and speedmaps for all races visit Good Form at thetrots.com.au
This week’s winners sired by Woodlands Stud stallions
Copy That by American Ideal out of Lively Nights at Auckland
Christianshavtime by American Ideal out of One Christian at Auckland
Mr Fantastic by Bettor’s Delight out of It’s All On at Auckland
Ideally Fast by American Ideal out of Bettabefast at Penrith
Prince Potter by American Ideal out of Illustrator at Penrith
Our Action Man by American Ideal out of Easton All Action at Penrith
Delightful Dude by Bettor’s Delight out of Dudinkas Angel at Addington
Mozasu by Bettor’s Delight out of Marnie Maguire at Hobart
Kardeslar by American Ideal out of Kusadasi at Hobart
Indiana Dreaming by Bettor’s Delight out of The Dreamtime at Hobart
Hillbilly Band by Bettor’s Delight out of Vernett at Hobart
Blue Ivy by Sweet Lou out of Strathtara at Dubbo
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
