Champion set to star in Albany

Champion WA reinsman Gary Hall Jr will be the star attraction at the Albany Harness Racing Club’s opening meet of the season this Sunday, with the 30-year-old engaged for a quality book of drives at the twilight meeting.

The winner of 18 Grand Circuit Series races and reinsman of WA pacing champion Im Themightyquinn, who has won 44 times and is a $3.4 million stake-earner, Hall Jr will make his first visit to Albany and Harold Reid Raceway this weekend.

Hall Jr drove Im Themightyquinn, a dual Inter Dominion champion, to third place at the Victorian Cup in Melton last Saturday and is confident he can make his debut in Albany a winning one.

“I have never been to Albany before, even the town,” Hall Jr said.

“But there are not many places in WA I haven’t driven so I am looking forward to it, it should be a good day.”

“I am confident of booting home a couple of winners to make the trip worthwhile.”

The Perth-based reinsman leads the national drivers list with 70 winners so far this season, including 32 metro victories, and did not rule out future appearances in the Great Southern.

The son of leading WA pacing trainer Gary Hall Snr also revealed his father may venture to Albany with a team of horses later in the season.

The Albany Harness Racing Club is set for one of their biggest seasons in recent history with all 10 meetings to be broadcast on Sky Racing channel.

AHRC president Terry Dymock confirmed the club had received 185 nominations, including doubles, with 110 single horses nominated for the opening meet of the season. Dymock confirmed on Wednesday the club had received an extra two races on Sunday to accommodate an unusually high number of nominations.

“We’ve never had numbers like this before, it’s phenomenal and we’ve got a lot of horses coming down to stay for the season thanks to interest generated by bigger stakes money and a heap of local horses too,” he said.

Perth trainer Michael Brennan has three horses entered. Courtney Burch and Noel Keiley are also bringing impressive teams.