Rixon eyeing off more Group 1 opportunities

Emerging harness racing star Will Rixon is hopeful his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the recent TAB Regional Championships will lead to more big race opportunities in the months ahead.

Will spoke to Harness Racing New South Wales for the first episode of new weekly profile series Pacesetters.

Each week HRNSW’s Paul Cochrane will sit down with some of the leading drivers and trainers participating across New South Wales.

In today’s first episode, Will talked about his maiden Group 1 victory driving Father Bob for trainer Mark Fletcher at the Riverina Paceway in May.

“I could just tell they weren’t going to get past him at that stage and it was a feeling that’s hard to describe as we hit the line and I knew I’d won,” Will said.

“It makes you hungry for more. They’re so hard to win so I was trying not to set that as too much of a goal but when that happened it was a dream come true, especially given the circumstances.”

Will talks about the week leading up to that Riverina Final and the tragic passing of his legendary Grandfather Tony “AD” Turnbull just hours after the race.

Will is of course the son of racing luminaries Peter and Cindy Rixon. Cindy is AD’s daughter.

Advice has never been far away when required.

“What Dad’s always taught me from day one is try not to go out there with too much in your head because things change when the green light goes,” Will said.

“I think that’s important. You go out there thinking you’re going to do one thing and it doesn’t go to plan then you have to go to plan B.”

“I think going out there with a clear head has been good and I think you’ve got to be able to make those split second decisions and try not to be too indecisive out there.”

Will is now eyeing off more Group 1 drives later this year.

You can watch the full Pacesetters interview with Will Rixon below: