Teenager finding touch in new surrounds

Former Tasmanian-based teenage harness racing driver Ryan Backhouse has taken up a position in country Victoria—and it took him just three drives to “get the chocolates”.

“I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to get to Victoria one day. I’m working for Aaron Dunn at Horsham, and everything is going nicely. I’m really enjoying it,” Backhouse said.

The 17-year-old, who gets a five-point concession claim, was quick to sum up the situation at Stawell last Thursday (Jan 26) and landed the money in impressive fashion on Eyethink (Sunshine Beach) in the $7000 Sertori and Co Pace.

Backhouse sat patiently near the back of the field, watching it all unfold in front of him as several other drivers all had the same idea—and that was to get closer up the front.

“There was a bit happening. They certainly just kept moving around there for a while, but my horse was always feeling good,” he said.

“Aaron told me before the race that Eyethink had always shown a bit and his work leading up to Stawell had been super.”

Backhouse sent Eyethink forward at the bell and after getting past most of the other runners, shot the four-year-old to the lead with 400m to go.

Eyethink won by 14 metres from The Stylist, with a further 11 metres back to She Will Wantano. The mile rate for the 2180m trip was a handy 1.59-4.

Backhouse, who got his licence in the 2019/20 season, has kicked off in fine fashion after making Victoria his home about three weeks ago.

“I was pretty happy to run second at my very first drive at Maryborough, and then I had a bit of bad luck at my next steer with a sixth when I was looking a place chance,” he said.

“But it was awesome to get the money with Eyethink at my next go!”

Backhouse, who lived at Brighton, an outer suburb of Hobart, said he was thoroughly enjoying the weather at his new home and “hoped it stayed that way, particularly in winter”!

He said he was always going to get involved in harness racing after leaving school.

“My dad, as well as my Nan and Pop and a lot of cousins are all into it. They all follow me and are really supportive,” he said.

“I’ve now driven 17 winners and I got 12 of these last season. I was working for Phillip Ford and Tammy Langley most mornings and drove at all the Tassie tracks, with the exception of Scottsdale.”

Backhouse has been engaged to handle Eyethink again at Horsham today (Feb 1) in race 8 and he’s keen as mustard on the pre-post favorite.

“Aaron is getting his track at home done up at the moment, so we’ve been doing a lot of the fastwork in at Horsham and the track is great,” he said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink