Craig Clegg finds success with supportive owners

It's the first thing the Kootingal thoroughbred trainer mentions when asked of his days as a harness driver-trainer.

"When you train and drive your own horses, you know how to ride them, you know their strengths," he said.

"When you're training [thoroughbreds] you have to rely on trackwork riders, then jockeys and you can't always get the same one. Sometimes you don't get that continuity.

"You get a closer connection with the horse when you do all the work yourself."

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Not that he doesn't love training thoroughbreds as well. He first did it early on his career.

He raced thoroughbreds in the 1980s and early 90s before focusing his talents toward harness racing.

Clegg was then a harness driver-trainer up until 2016 when he moved back into the world of thoroughbred racing after Racing NSW lifted the prizemoney on country TAB races.

And while there are differences between the two types of racing, Clegg said the connections have always been there. Not only with the horses but with the owners as well.

Clegg says he's been lucky to have the support of some loyal owners over the years.

Owners like Darrell Kidd - who Clegg first combined with in the harness racing world. Clegg now trains a couple thoroughbreds for Kidd as well.

"We've had luck in the past - won a lot in the North West for him and won races in Brisbane at Albion Park. We had a pretty successful partnership," Clegg said.

"We've always kept in touch but he rang me out of the blue one day and said 'I've got a couple horses for you to train'."

You can throw the Lynes in the same category as Kidd. They own Dixie Can who scored an impressive win at Tamworth on Tuesday.

It was Dixie Can's second start after some injury woes.

"I've had a couple owners support me and that was one of them, [owner of Dixie Can] Phillip Lyne," Clegg said.

"I've won a few races for him and yesterday was a good result. The horse had showed some promise but then had a real bad quarter crack in his hoof.

"I've done a lot of remedial work to get it right and we eventually did.

"Yesterday bore the fruit of that labour."

Clegg's next starter is Mock Song who is set to race in the Les Howard Willow Tree Cup this Saturday.

It will be the mare's second start for Clegg after Mock Song was previously trained by Melissa Dennett.

"Mock Song is owned by Dennis Swan and his wife Robyn. I've known them a long time," Clegg said.

"I've given her one start where she led at Tamworth and she probably needed a run. I'm looking for her to improve."

Geoffrey Snowden is booked to ride Mock Song who will be Clegg's sole runner on the day.

The Willow Tree Cup field includes last year's winner Snipex Abaa while there has been one scratching as of Thursday with last-start winner Enigami being scratched from the race.