A bullseye for Glenn

Former Victorian harness racing trainer-driver Glenn Bull has celebrated his homecoming in the best possible way – with a first-up winner.

Bull was back in Victoria less than a week after an eight-year stint in NSW, when six-year-old mare Sweet Creation (Artistic Fella – American Honey (Village Jasper) saluted at Bendigo on Tuesday night.

It was Bull’s first starter as either a trainer or driver since his return, and came only 11 days after he went out a winner from New South Wales, as well.

“Our last meeting in NSW was at Newcastle last week (Oct 15) and Sweet Creation won there for us as well,” Bull said.

“We actually thought we would have to go into 14 days’ quarantine once we got into Victoria, but the rules changed when we were moving down, so we didn’t have to.

“Once we got down here we thought she’s fit and ready to race, and she’s going pretty well, so we’ll see how we go, and entered her at Bendigo,” Bull said.

“It was a nice way to get settled in back here, anyway!”

Sweet Creation showed plenty of grit to lead over the 1650 metre journey and score in 1:58.0. The mare withstood a determined challenge in the final lap by death-seater Mighty Regal before holding off late finishers Shez Elite (John Newberry) and Roxy Royale (Leigh Graham).

Glenn grew up in northwest Victoria and he and his wife Corinne had a chicken farm at Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, for 30 years. They had over 12,000 birds on hand by the time they sold the property in 2013.

“My back wasn’t able to handle the farming anymore, so we decided on a change of direction. We bought a motel in Tuncurry (on the NSW mid-north Coast),” Bull said.

“I didn’t get into horses until I was about 30. I’d always gone to the trots and I had some friends in the sport, and eventually I started training, then driving a few,” he said.

“When we moved north, though, I leased the horses out. One of them a horse named Banjoe (Pacific Fella – Nova Action (Safely Kept) ended up back with us when he was three, and that’s how I got back into them. I had to work out how to train them on the beach but Banjoe ended up winning 12 races for us!”

Bull said he had to change up his training methods quite significantly.

“The trouble with working on the beach where we were was that it was so busy. There were a lot of people around, so it was pretty difficult to do jog work. Anytime I worked them they were really doing pacework.

“They seemed to enjoy it though. I don’t think they got sour so much, and once they’re trialling and racing, they seemed to be fit enough.

“I’ve been training Sweet Creation since last year and she’s won nine for us now, and five since August, so she’s been doing a terrific job.”

The Bulls have purchased a property on 100 acres at Derrinal, near Heathcote and Glenn has a team of five in work, all owned or leased by the family.

“Our two daughters Tiffany and Melissa love the horses, they’re the stablehands and wherever we go, they go,” Bull said.

“Our sons are back here, in Melbourne and Bendigo, and we have friends in this area, so it just made sense for us to move back now. It feels like home and everyone’s happy to be back closer together.

“I can train horses wherever I am, and the property we’ve bought has been used for horse breeding in the past, so it’s got all of the paddocks and facilities we need – we’ve got plans for a 900-metre track to go in, then we’ll have everything we need.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink