Career best ‘high five’ for young driver

Young New South Wales harness racing driver Brad Elder had a huge day out at Tamworth last Thursday (March 23) when he drove five winners on the eight-race program.

“I thought I had a few nice drives—but I’ve learnt not to get my expectations too high because that’s when things seem to go wrong,” he said.

Elder, based near Maitland in the Lower Hunter Valley region, said despite having to do a road trip of over three hours, he is a regular competitor at Tamworth.

“We’re down there at nearly every meeting. It’s a nice half mile track and the money is pretty good. At the moment we’re racing at Tamworth on Thursday afternoons and then Newcastle on a Friday,” he said.

“I’ve probably driven four winners at a meeting about six or seven times, so it was a bit special to get a bag of five. And three of them were from my stable—I’ve been training since September last year.”

The twenty-four-year-old landed Tulhurst Blaster (Caribbean Blaster) for Anthony Missen in the second race. He was then successful in the fourth with a horse he prepares, Seamark (Christian Cullen); Nightwatch Star (Follow The Stars) for his dad Darren in the next; followed by two more of his own in Im Boo (Mach Three) and Big Skewy (Sportswriter).

Elder said despite growing up around horses, his number one early sporting interest was rugby league.

“When I was young, I was right into football. The last two years I played we won the premiership and then went up a grade the next year. We didn’t do so well, and that’s probably when I become more involved with the horses,” he said.

“While I’m doing four or five of my own, I’m still training with dad who is going really good. Between us there’s probably around 38 horses and there’s three people helping us out.

“I decided to get a trainer’s license after I had a few people wanting to get involved as owners. I’d have to say that Big Skewy, who was my fifth winner at Tamworth, is probably my favorite.

“He was the first horse I picked out and purchased from New Zealand. We’ve won four with him and he’s one of those horses you just love having around—he gives his best day in, day out.”

Elder has driven 13 wins and 18 placings this season from 67 starts.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink