A special French connection at Kilmore

Parisian Artiste (Love You) already holds a special place in the life of young harness racing reinswoman Tayla French, having delivered her first Group 1-winning drive in last season’s Vicbred Super Series final for three-year-old colts and geldings at Melton.

“He’s probably my number one horse. We get along quite well,” she said. “He’s very classy and has everything that a good horse needs.”

Parisian Artiste has his first start for the season in a Winter Trotters Cup heat at Kilmore on Saturday night and, of course, French will have the reins.

French and her partner, Bendigo trainer Alex Ashwood, have the gelding primed to launch the campaign in style after winning four trials over the past month.

French said it had taken a while to get Parisian Artiste ready for his return.

“He went to the paddock after the Group 1 (win) and hit holiday mode too well. He came back looking really good.

“Being a Love You they hold their condition pretty well, and it’s taken a lot of work to get him race fit. He really looks the part now.”

French said she was feeling confident about his return.

“He’s starting to work with the fast class pacers at home, which not a lot of trotters can do, and is hitting the line hard.

“I’m happy with the draw and the way he’s going. We couldn’t be happier with him. He’s such a professional and whatever he does he’ll improve.”

Parisian Artiste’s rise to the top, culminating in the Group 1 victory and being named the 2021 Victorian three-year-old male trotter of the year, came in a rush late in the season.

He was among the first horses Ashwood had in his stable when he began his training career mid-year.

Parisian Artiste won first-up for Ashwood at Cobram on September 23 and over the next three months went on to win seven off 11 starts, which included finishing third in a Group 1 Breeders Crown final.

After that he won four on end, going a career-best 1:55.5 in the Wagon Apollo Mile at Bendigo and then taking out the Vicbred Super Series heat and final. French had the reins in all these 11 starts.

Parisian Artiste is contesting the second of two Winter Trotters Cup heats – his heat being named in memory of Leli and Mary Mifsud.

Kilmore Harness Racing Club is dedicating the race meeting to some of the greats of the sport in Kilmore, with races also named in honour of champion pacer Popular Alm and his trainer Bob Knight and driver Vin Knight, Roger Reeves, Ken Chapman, Don Logie, Don Dove and Bob Cain.

The Popular Alm Sprint features the return of the highly regarded Honolua Bay (Somebeachsomewhere) from the Ballarat stable of Emma Stewart.

He was unbeaten in five starts for Stewart last season and this is his first start since saluting in the Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old entires and geldings at Melton on New Year’s Eve.

For complete race fields, click here.

by David Brehaut, for HRV