Taylor’s up and away, with two on the board

Teenage harness racing driver Taylor Youl hadn’t driven a winner from 10 attempts before last Friday – and then in the space of a little over seven hours she not only got her first victory, but her second as well.

“It was a really good day-it was pretty awesome. I thought they were both chances because they’d been racing well,” Youl said.

“But it was back to reality the next day because there was work to be done at the stables,” she laughed.

The Bendigo-based 17-year-old led all the way with bay mare Harts Last in the $10,000 Alabar VicBred Platinum Maiden Pace at Maryborough on Friday afternoon.

Youl then travelled down the highway to Ballarat and duly got the money with Cherokee Joe in the $7000 Boltons Office National Pace.

Harts Last (Stonebridge Regal-Hartsthumpin (Muckalee Strike) had recorded four placings from as many starts prior to breaking through.

“She’s a lovely horse and is trained by my uncle Kent (Harpley) at Junortoun where I work. At my very first drive two months ago we just missed out on winning-and that was at Maryborough as well,” Youl said.

“When I was able to get the lead on Friday, I guess I was reasonably confident.”

After an early burn, Youl dropped anchor with a 32.9 quarter and then put the foot down again with 29.2 and 28.6 splits to score by seven metres from Keayang Remi (Jordan Leedham) and Tex Goes Bang (Chris Alford).

Harts Last is raced by her breeders John and Kay Campbell of Loddon Valley Standardbred Stud at Lockwood.

Youl took the Ballarat drive on Cherokee Joe (For A Reason-Regaltive (Stonebridge Regal) for highly successful trainer Jess Tubbs.

“We raced in the death-seat and the horse went super. We just sort of kept our cool and he won nicely,” Youl said.

“I’m not old enough to have a car driver’s licence so Kents partner Shelly drove me down to Ballarat.”

Youl said she had been going to harness racing meetings since she was very young.

“Mum and dad aren’t into it much and probably the only reason I’m so involved is through Kent. I just love it and I reckon I was maybe 11 or 12 when I first got in the cart,” she said.

“Before I drove at the races for the first time I competed in heaps of trials. I know I drove in a fair few more than I had to, but other junior drivers told me to do as many as I could.

“Now I’m finding that I’m taking something out of every drive.”

Youl said while there are many outstanding drivers to look up to, she had two favorites in Chris Alford and Greg Sugars.

The youngster, who claims a five-point concession, is booked at Shepparton on Tuesday night on Jennysfavorite, quoted as a $7.50 chance on early markets.

“I’d love to make it three wins in a row, but the horse is one of those ones who can have a mind of her own at times,” she said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink