Quiet achiever to make some noise at Penrith

BLAKE Fitzpatrick has grown up privileged to be part of a talented family of horsemen who have scaled lofty heights in the sport.

His father Paul has won multiple Group races, mainly with younger horses, while Blake has consistently trained a healthy number of winners over the past eight years with his best result coming in the 2015/16 season when he drove 105 winners and trained 93.

But this quiet achiever never hogs the limelight and is just happy going about his business.

More recently, Blake has fulfilled a burning desire to become a gallops trainer as well and while it keeps him busy, he is thoroughly enjoying the diversion away from what has been a daily involvement in harness racing.

“It has been a breath of fresh air having a duel trainer’s license”, said Blake who explained that he currently has five gallopers in training at Kembla Grange racecourse.

“I don’t find there is that much difference in getting the gallopers fit and ready to race but there is a little more fine-tuning and attention to detail that goes into them once you are close to starting them.”

One real talent that Blake possesses is with the square trotters and his winning strike rate with them in recent years has been outstanding.

“I love the trotters and have trained some very nice ones,” he said.

“My stable is evenly made up of trotters and pacers but sometimes it can be hard to place the trotters once they have won a few races.

“We are heading to Penrith tonight where I have two pacers competing.

“I am taking on the older horses with two-year-old Slick Sophie.

“She has won at her only two starts and appears to be a nice filly in the making.

“I am pleased with drawing barrier one with her and expect her to lead and if that happens, I am confident she will make it three on the bounce.”

Both of Slick Sophie’s wins have been at Penrith where she raced forward before recording comfortable wins, the latest by almost 16 metres in a smart mile rate of 1.57.8.

Blake’s second runner (Race 6) is Little Bliss, a three-year-old daughter of Art Major.

“She likes to lead so from barrier two I will be pushing forward,” he said.

“She is a consistent type and should be hard to beat.”

• MICHAEL DUMESNY