Bec hoping for a little help from above in $60,000 Cup

Bec Bartley is hoping for a little bit of help from above as she attempts to win her hometown harness racing feature the Shepparton Gold Cup this weekend.

The Goulburn Valley horsewoman is mourning the recent loss of her grandfather John Bartley, who rode all the ups and downs of her career in harness racing before his passing last week.

“You could do no wrong in Pa’s eyes. He was the proudest person you could ever get,” the 30-year-old trainer-driver said in an interview with Nikkita Ross.

“He used to go down to the (Shepparton) club and everyone knew who his granddaughters were.

“I have a brother and most people don’t know I have a brother, but he always sort of got forgotten about because Pa was just so proud of his girls.

“He had a really good life. I used to ring him all the time going to the races and his last words were always to bring him home a winner, so hopefully we can do that on Saturday night.”

Bartley, along with her training partner Stephen O’Donoghue, have stable stars San Carlo and Western Sonador engaged in the $60,000 Group 2 feature this Saturday night. Click here to view fields.

San Carlo, as he has in all 66 career starts so far, will be driven by Bartley, while Blake Jones will make the trip down from New South Wales to partner Western Sonador.

David Moran’s star pacer Lochinvar Art will be first-up from a long injury lay-off this Saturday night and is favourite to claim back-to-back wins in the race.

WATCH NIKKITA ROSS’ INTERVIEW WITH BARTLEY BELOW:

By Tim O’Connor for HRV