Little champ exceeds all expectations

Third generation harness racing trainer-driver Ellen Bartley has every reason to be “over the moon” with the form of a recent purchase that has just kept ticking the boxes.

“We didn’t really need another horse with the numbers we are doing, but I thought she would be ideal for the young boys working at our stables to drive at the races,” Bartley said.

“But we now call Ellas Reason our little champ – she has just exceeded all of our expectations,” she said.

Bartley, who is based at Narrandera with her fiancé Blake Jones, an hour from Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina agricultural region, purchased five-year-old mare Ellas Reason (For A Reason) about eight weeks ago.

A first-up second placing at Wagga Wagga was followed by a win, a fifth, a second and then two impressive victories.

“It’s certainly surprised us a bit and along the way she’s won two free services and a NSW bonus. We bought her off Dean and Rikki Cernovskis who had won three with her around the Canberra region,” Bartley said.

“She always showed she had ability and always was a nice horse for Deano. They are happy to see her doing well. The races we won did look very suitable.

“After her Bendigo win, she had a couple of days in the paddock – she deserved it. The trip to Swan Hill where she won a qualifying heat took 3 1/2 hours, and Bendigo was a bit over five.

“I didn’t get to either meeting as the Swan Hill race clashed with the day our farrier had 10 to do and then the next one someone had to stay home and do the work because we’ve got 20 in work.

“She will race local for a while and my plan is to get a five-point mare drop-back as well as another five for junior driver Harvey Odgers who works for us. He’s only 17 but drives okay. He’s still at school, but he’s at the stables every chance he gets.”

Obviously, the highlight for the Bartley/Jones team was the latest win by Ellas Reason in the inaugural running of the Llowalong Farms Heidi George Classic Final at Bendigo (August 2).

Created by Llowalong Farms standardbred stud, Kyabram, heats were run at Echuca (winner being Shezabluechip) on July 18 and the other at Swan Hill (Ellas Reason) on July 26, with qualifiers contesting a $20,000 final.

In addition to the increased stakes, woollen rugs were presented and free services to one of the stallions on Llowalong’s 2023 roster, as well as an etched crystal decanter.

The series was facilitated through the efforts of Northern Rivers Equine and Llowalong Farms principal Dr Kath McIntosh to nurture support for mare and filly racing.

“It ensures we have viable commercial markets for fillies and sets up a progression to the breeding barn where all our race stock comes from,” McIntosh said.

The Heidi George Classic is named after McIntosh’s two daughters.

Bartley, a qualified equine sports massage therapist, said the stable didn’t hesitate to border-hop into Victoria for the VicBred bonus or any races that suited their team.

“Our busy time of the season is approaching with some nice feature races coming up. The staging of the Carnival of Cups is always good racing. We’ve got a few new racehorses, and we’ve got some youngsters coming through,” she said.

That exciting period begins at Bendigo tonight (August 11) with the team having qualified Red Shores (Sweet Lou) for the Alabar Nutrien 2yo colts and geldings Classic $175,000 final.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink