Milestone trainer would prefer not to have!

AFTER registering a milestone he’d prefer not to have reached, trainer Daniel Tucker hopes to begin his quest towards his original goal for the season during tonight’s Port Pirie meeting.

Winning eight races last season, Tucker set the modest task of completing 10 victories in 2026, but the year has been far from perfect.

In fact, Tucker’s team have had 100 starts for the term without success!

“After having an alright year last year, I thought it would be good to aim for 10 wins,” Tucker said. “Nothing that seemed too far out of reach. But the first half of the year hasn’t been good at all.

“I’ve had no luck at the races or at the stable with little things going wrong.

“Hopefully that will change in the second half of the year and I’ll get a few wins on the board.”

Tucker has four runners on the card, with each drawn to cause an upset.

Heathbern Bruce will begin from the pole over a mile after Tucker utilised Bernadette Page’s concession driver’s claim to allow the pacer to drop in class.

“He is going to need luck, but the draw could be the break he needs,” Tucker said. “With the right run he could upset them.”

Love The Sea will then begin from gate two in the following event, with Page to partner the daughter of Franco Habourmaster.

“I think she is the best of my chances tonight,” Tucker said. “Although her form doesn’t read all that well, I’m happy with her work and have faith in her.”

Drawn one and two in the final event on the card, Ivar and Southwind Chloe “are probably outclassed” according to Tucker.

Page will be in the cart behind Ivar, with Wayne Hill to drive Southwind Chloe.

“Ryan Hryhorec’s two (Military Merit and Star Of Patrick) are even favourites at $2 and look as though they have the race to themselves,” Tucker declared. “My pair are probably outclassed, but they’ll do their best.”