Broodmare the catalyst for Melanie’s passion

Harness racing’s Elder family is well represented at Newcastle on Friday (Sep. 16) in the qualifying heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Darren Elder has Jimmy Bling (Bling It On) engaged in the seven-horse field while his daughter Melanie prepares Love Lou (Sweet Lou), a veteran of just two career starts to date.

Love Lou is owned by Nicole Elder, who also races Jimmy Bling in a partnership, and she is excited over the possibility that the pair could both figure prominently in the finish.

Love Lou is from the former smart race mare Pagan Love who won 16 races and almost $100,000 in stake money.

Pagan Love has produced three winning foals including Ashark, who has won 19 races and more than $150,000 prizemoney.

Her second foal, Miss Piggy Wiggy, has won five races, the latest being at Kilmore.

“Pagan Love has been such a beautiful mare for us and to see her progeny doing so well is very rewarding,” said Melanie.

“She is probably the main reason for my strong interest in the sport.

“She was that one horse which I just clicked with.

“I loved coming home from school to see her and then when Dad started letting me do trackwork with her, that was when I knew I wanted to be a trainer.

“It is great to still have her around.

“She is living a carefree life with us here in the paddock.”

Love Lou was impressive when he scored at Newcastle on September 2 in wet conditions.

After enjoying a nice trip in the run, driver Joe Taaffe moved the gelding out after the leader Zen Master and following a head-and-head battle from the home turn, he gained the upper hand to score by almost two metres.

“I was really happy with his last run and look forward contesting this race,” said Melanie.

“He has trained on nicely during the past fortnight and looks fit, which is great.”

Love Lou has drawn wide which does not overly concern Elder given that it is a small field.

“He will have to do some work at some stage of the race, but I expect him to be right in the finish,” she said.

The Elders other runner, Jimmy Bling, finished a creditable fourth behind Love Lou when on debut and will have benefited from that run.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW