First-up strike after seven years between starts

Harness racing is full of comeback stories, but Andrew Rawlings’ return to the training ranks at Melton last Friday (Sept 5) couldn’t have been scripted any better.

The Ballan horseman prepared his first race starter in more than seven years – and came away with a winner, when four-year-old debutant Jusjohn (Bling It On) saluting in fine style.

Rawlings and his partner Joanne Mangion bought a property at Ballan several years ago and have been quietly building their training base.

“It was an old greyhound training property and there was a fair bit of work to do – and still plenty to do yet,” Rawlings said.

“We’ve both been working while we’ve been fixing the place up, so it’s taken time. But now that the weather’s fining up hopefully we can keep making progress,” he said.

The return to racing was also a return to old friendships, with John Caldow taking the reins on the winner.

“Last time we were racing I was working for John, and when I finished there I got a job driving a stockfeed truck. We kept a couple of horses at Joanne’s dad’s  place (respected farrier Arthur Mangion), but getting our own place has been great,” he said.

Rawlings’ passion for harness racing runs deep. His father David is a Hall of Fame inductee in Tasmania.  He was a trainer-driver from 1975 to 2000, with wins including the 1980 Easter Plate with Rowans Rhythm and nine victories with Tyrolean, including one at Moonee Valley. But the family’s greatest thrills were through breeding 1990 Inter Dominion champion Thorate, from their mare Liza Storm.

“Dad was always involved, he always had a full time job as well, but I wanted to take it further and he and mum (Anne) supported me,” Andrew said.

As a young reinsman, Rawlings picked up numerous junior driving awards and represented Tasmania in the 2000 National Young Drivers Championship. Later, he trained a handy team including Johnny Ace (12 wins) and Punt Road Disco (17 wins).

Rawlings spent time in Victoria, and a permanent move to Victoria followed, to work with the Caldows.

“My wife Sharyn and I decided the opportunities were here. When Sharyn passed away suddenly pretty soon after we moved, things changed a lot, but the Caldows were wonderful to me. Our daughter Matilda was settled, so we stayed here,” he said.

“I met Joanne about seven years ago – our daughters used to do pony trots together.”

Harness racing is still very much a family affair. Joanne’s daughter Sophie, 17, is a talented dressage rider bound for the Sydney junior nationals, while Matilda, 19, is heavily involved in the stable.

“Matilda has done 85 percent of the work with Jusjohn – I just turn up to do a bit of fast work!” Andrew laughed.

Jusjohn is owned by longtime supporter John Huston, who bred him from Angkristy, which had been trained by Rawlings.  The four-year-old’s siblings are showing promise too, with Barbary Tales (3yo) placed in the $80K Beautide at Hobart, and A Dragon For Joe (2yo) already a winner from just three starts.

“This bloke has had his share of issues, especially shoeing – but David Punch has done all the hard work there. He’s a big, heavy horse and the time and maturity have really helped. We’ve taken our time with him and not forced him,” Rawlings said.

The plan is to give Jusjohn a few more runs, with a suitable Tasmanian race to follow for his Tasbred bonus the main target.

“It’s probably only a hobby for us, but we’re looking forward to getting back into it. Joanne has a couple of unraced trotters at her dad’s that are ready to come back too. They’ve had a spell since we moved, but we’re keen to get them going again,” he said.

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink