Douglas out to break own record

By Matt Nicholls
Updated November 7 2012 - 5:23am, first published June 8 2011 - 11:14am

BENDIGO reinsman Daryl Douglas is on target to break his own Australian record of most wins in a harness racing season.The champion driver made it 300 wins for the 2010-11 season when he steered Jackson Grant to victory at Melton on Sunday, putting him on track to break the 388 wins record he set in 2007-08.At this point of the 2008 season, “Dasher” had driven 292 winners.Douglas can add to his winning tally when he teams up with brother Glenn in the $20,000 Glenferrie Farm Italian Cup at Melton on tomorrow night.Glenn, Victoria’s leading trainer, has two pacers entered for the 2240-metre event – Bold Cruiser and Stirling Charmer.Daryl will take the reins of the latter from the fifth position on the front row, while Glenn will steer Bold Cruiser from the pole.The Douglases will be aiming for back-to-back wins in the feature event after Bold Cruiser won the race last year.On paper, the nine-year-old gelding might look out of form heading into the classy race, but Glenn said he was confident his stable favourite was a top chance to snap his 15-race losing streak.“It’s a perfect draw and he (Bold Cruiser) is certainly travelling better than his form might suggest,” Glenn said. “Everybody that gets off him lately says he’s going great guns.“From the gate he should lob a very nice spot, too. “Everybody knows he loves getting a soft run behind the leader and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t land there and go pretty close. “From memory he drew well in this race last year before winning, so, hopefully, he can repeat the dose.”One of Australia’s highest-profile horses on the back of some big performances in the nation’s greatest races prior to his first Italian Cup triumph 12 months ago, Bold Cruiser has been somewhat overshadowed by harness racing’s new breed of stars in recent times.Glenn said he was confident his Group One-winning gelding was every bit the horse he was at the same time last year.“He’s definitely going as good as last year,” the star Strathfieldsaye horseman said. “He’s just got to get that right run now I suppose – and from where we’ve landed he won’t be far away.The only reason we keep him going is because we think he’s going well enough. “We know he’s in the twilight of his career and the minute he tells us he’s not enjoying it any longer or he starts going poorly, we’ll pull the plug.“But for now he’s still finishing off his races like a good horse so we’ve got every reason to push on with business as usual.”Stirling Charmer might not be as credentialled as his stablemate, but should give a good sight with Daryl in the sulky.The six-year-old gelding ran a bold second to Pembrook Henry last Friday night in the $15,000 Choice Hotels Pace.After finding the lead from the fifth alley on the front row, Stirling Charmer led for all but one metre of the 2240m race, with Pembrook Henry pipping him on the line.Daryl will no doubt look to find the front again from the same position tomorrow night, allowing Bold Cruiser to position behind him and utilise the sprint lane if capable.The main rivals to the Douglas team will be seasoned performers Our Malabar, Rowan Direct and Decorated Jasper.

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