The Group 11 title race is heating up but it’s another type of race which Jordan Reynolds is focused on this weekend.
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Reynolds is a back-rower with Dubbo CYMS but won’t be playing this weekend due to the minor premiers having the first round of the Group 11 finals off.
Instead, he will be having two drives during Sunday’s bumper 10-race meeting at Dubbo Harness Racing Club.
“It’s pretty rare during during footy season,” Reynolds said of the chance to get in the gig.
“It’s hard to get drives but with a weekend off (rugby league) it’s a chance.”
Reynolds is relishing the chance to race this weekend, with rugby league often disrupting what has been a lifelong passion.
“I love it. I’ve done it all my life and was doing it as a kid so any chance I get to drive, I do,” he said.
“I drive in trials and do trackwork so it’s an all-year round thing. But it just clashes with footy and it has to take a step back.”
Sometimes during pre-season Reynolds would opt for driving in trials or trackwork over a gruelling fitness session but once the competition proper rolled around it was rugby league that was the priority.
The two drives on Sunday are both for Dubbo trainer Brett Pay and while Reynolds appreciates the support after driving less than some others, he’s confident in his own ability.
“I appreciate that (support from Pay) but I drive in trials for him and have done trackwork for him so I’d be a bit dirty if he didn’t put me on,” he laughed.
“But I’ve gone pretty good for him before and have won with Sunscreen before and the other one (on Sunday) is only a young fella but I’ve driven him in trials.”
The ‘young fella’ is Remember Bubbles, who will be making his second career start from gate one in the Control The Moment KTC Bloodstock Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace (2120m) while Reynolds’ other drives is the consistent Sunscreen from gate five in the day’s final event, the Hurrikane Kingcole Egmont Park Stud Pace (2120m).
Remember Bubbles debuted at Parkes last weekend and ran fifth after having some issues during the event, while the ever-reliable Sunscreen has seven wins and 21 placings from 58 career starts.
“He (Remember Bubbles) has a bit of ability but wasn’t happy in his gear and was not steady so we had to re-trial him and I drove him there,” Reynolds.
“I worked him again this (Friday) morning and he worked really well and he can be right there.”
In terms of Sunscreen’s hopes, Reynolds said the seven-year-old was an “honest chance” and if he got a little luck and got towards the front early he would be in the running.
Dubbo Harness Club hosts meetings the next four weekends.
Reynolds will be back with the Fishies next weekend, playing in the Group 11 major semi-final, but a win in that game would see him free to drive again on September 2.