Hoping to keep the good times flowing

By John Dunne (HRV)

Young gun NSW reinsman Jack Callaghan is hoping his current wave of success in Victoria extends to the lucrative All In One Property Mercury80 Final at Melton next week.
Callaghan has partnered Spirit Of St Louis to victory in the Ballarat, Sheppparton and Bendigo Cups over the past three weeks and on Saturday night takes the reins behind Cash N Flow in an intriguing final heat of the Mercury80.
Callaghan is no stranger driving in the 1200-metre short-course dash.
“I’ve driven in two 1200 metre races at Tamworth and won one of them,” Callaghan said.
“Some people think you have to go flat out the whole way of the 1200 metres but you’ve still got to rate your horse.”
A regular competitor at Group 1 level in recent seasons, the Belinda McCarthy-trained pacer will be looking for a return to the winner’s stall following two unplaced efforts at Menangle, although he was timed to run his last 800 metres in a slick 53.2 at his latest outing.
“While he might not be at the peak of his powers as he was 18 months ago, he is still good enough to win this series,” he said.
“He has enough gate speed to put himself in the race from the draw and be close enough on the turn to be in the finish.”
Callaghan said the Mercury80 series coincided with team McCarthy’s current Victorian campaign.
“It has worked out all right where the horse is down here and ready to go,” he said.
Nathan Jack will be aboard noted speedster Boots Electric, who is prepared by his father Russell and has the advantage of the coveted inside alley.
The lightly raced five-year-old led most of the way in the Cobram Cup two starts ago before weakening over the concluding stages off a tough run at Ballarat last Saturday night.
Reigning Mercury80 champion Yorkshire, who galloped in his heat last Friday night when a $3.80 favorite, will appreciate a more favorable barrier in his bid for a top two finish and the subsequent opportunity to defend his title.
The first two placed horses and the fastest third qualify for next week’s $50,000 final, so there are potentially three slots up for grabs on Saturday night.
To date La Puddie and Hashtag (heat one), Ozzie Battler and Jean Luc (heat two), and Love Ina Chevy (heat three) have all advanced. Ozzie Battler also finished second in heat three after winning heat two, which has created a spot for the quickest third-placed horse. At the moment that belongs to Jilliby Bandit (heat two), who finished 8.5 metres off the pace.
Heat two was the quickest of the heats so far (82.2 seconds), but there hasn’t been much in it with heat one 82.8 seconds and heat three 82.3 seconds.