MCKAYLER Barnes ascended to the highest point of her sport when she piloted her little pocket rocket Midnight Express to a dominant victory in the Mini Trotters Inter- Dominion final at Menangle Park last week.
Barnes, 14, and her mighty pony, who stands just nine hands tall, produced a peerless performance in the lead-up to the open Inter Dominion final, coming from the second back mark to win by a dominant margin.
Known as Blackie at home, the 7yo Midnight Express is the dominant performer on the mini trotting circuit, with his Inter Dominion win topping a magnificent career that has included three Treuer Memorial victories.
In an amazing co-incidence, Natalie Rasmussen later became the first female to win the open Inter Dominion as a trainer-driver when she crossed the line first behind Black's A Fake ? who shares the same stable name of Blackie.
Midnight Express and Barnes started at the 600m mark in 14th place of the 15-pony field, but quickly rounded up her rivals, some of whom had an 80m headstart, taking the lead before the home turn and making it a race in one down the home straight.
It was their second attempt at Inter Dominion glory after being sixth in the bigger horse category last year in Queensland, and probably their last given next year's event will be staged in Christchurch, New Zealand.
It was an emotional win for Barnes after her grandfather Ray passed away on New Year's Day.
She presented him with the shoes that Blackie wore in last year's Inter Dominion shortly before he died, and raced in his memory at Menangle.
"It's the Melbourne Cup of harness racing, so it was very exciting to win," Barnes' mum Anita said.
"Her grandfather just passed away on New Years Day, which makes it a more special win.
"She has to stop driving in the minis in two years because she will be 16 and she probably won't drive in another one (Inter Dominion) because next year is in Christchurch and it would cost about $9000 to go."
Mrs Barnes said McKayler strongly thanked her farrier Lindsay Jones, who makes Blackie's shoes and puts them on for her.
"A lot of people wouldn't rea- lise how hard it is to find some- one to shoe a mini trotter," she said.
Their next target is the NSW Mini Trotting Championships at Gundagai at Easter, where they will attempt to bounce back from last year's disappointment.
"If everything goes to plan he'll win it," Mrs Barnes said.
"Last year he won every heat by a long way and should have won the final as well but his tail tie broke and he bucked all the way and just got beat on the line."
Barnes and Midnight Exp- ress will now represent the Penrith Nepean District Mini Trotting Club after switching last year, and he races every Thursday night at Penrith until Easter.
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