Ron handed the reins and hasn’t looked back

Geelong horseman Ron Comben learned at an early age that harness racing was more than likely going to take him on a long journey.

“My dad had a team of horses, and while they were in his name, I did most of the work,” Comben said.

“Dad had a supermarket at Laverton, and I’d do the horses in the morning and later go into work at the supermarket, as well as go to the fruit and vegetable wholesale market at Footscray two or three times a week,” he said.

“Doing the horses down at the farm was much better than being at the supermarket- and I was getting paid to do it and getting half the stakes, so that was pretty good. But I did also get the blame when they went slow and got beaten!”

Ron’s father, Bruce “Bugsy” Comben was an institution in another sporting arena-displaying his outstanding football talents for Carlton Football Club.

Bruce was a tough and determined back pocket player who played 188 games between 1950 and 1961 for the Navy Blues. He was captain from 1958 to 1960, won the best and fairest in 1957 and 1958 and was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame in 1989. Most notably he was named as back pocket in their official “Team of the Twentieth Century”.

But Ron Comben has been kicking goals of his own recently through the deeds of bay gelding Orlandos Gift (Orlando Vici (FRA)-Calder Luck (Malabar Maple USA).

The five-year-old square gaiter took out the $7000 Opus Group Maiden Trot at TABcorp Park Melton on Monday afternoon.

The win gave Haras de Trotteurs (at Cardigan, near Ballarat) roster member Orlando Vici a 100 per cent winning strike rate with his Australian-bred progeny-the French stallion now has 15 winners from 15 starters.

Comben said Orlandos Gift had been most consistent in recent months.

“She’s finished close-up a few times during this campaign. We’ve been using freelance driver Ross Payne and he’s been doing a good job.”

Prior to the Melton victory, Orlandos Gift had been placed at Geelong (twice), Kilmore (twice) and Maryborough. In seven other starts since March, she hadn’t finished further back than fifth so certainly deserved to break through. The mare now has one win and nine placings from 25 career outings.

“One of my mates Haydon Gray had the horse early on and asked me if I wanted to have a try. I’ve known Haydon for quite a while because he used to drive for me, but he was busy with a big team and also had a full-time job,” Comben said.

Comben, who also had a driver’s licence for a short time and “drove a few winners”, has been associated with many nice horses over the years including Grins Rendition, an outstanding performer (23 wins, 49 placings) and Gee Ay (11 wins, 18 placings).

“We’ve got a 70-acre property at Modewarre and I’ve got two in work at the moment, with a couple of two-year-olds to come back in. My wife Renee is also looking after about 10 others who are retired and ones that were no good,” Comben said.

“Renee has harness racing in her blood too. Her grandfather was Merv Wright who was a successful trainer-driver in the Victorian Mallee at Sea Lake a long time ago.”

Ron said he had his dad to thank for his two passions in life – harness racing and Carlton Football Club.

“I wasn’t born when dad was playing, but I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about his football feats,” Comben said.

“Over the years I’ve hardly missed watching a Carlton game. I particularly love flying to the Gold Coast to watch their games up there,” he said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink