Falvo flag flies high with four winners

An unforgettable four winners on one night has further fuelled the harness racing passion of north west Victorian table grape grower Michael Falvo and his cousin Nathan.

Falvo, from Robinvale, on the Murray River, has been an owner for the past few years but fell in love with the sport when he was just 10 years old.

“I was friends with Vince Vallelonga who was training horses just over the river at Euston for Eric Anderson. I’d go over there and clean out the yards and poke about. My dad Joe managed some fruit blocks for Eric,” Falvo said.

“I just loved being around the horses. Vince let me drive a horse named Shonky Duff one day-I can still remember that like it was yesterday.”

Nathan Falvo started the ball rolling at Mildura last Thursday night when five-year-old Kick It To Jack (Village Jolt-Sophies Girl (Safely Kept) took out the opening event. Trained by Alex “Alby” Ashwood, the gelding was driven a treat by Ashwood’s partner Tayla French.

Then the spotlight turned to Michael Falvo as Lucinda Jamar (Franco Jamar-Previous Nessie (On Parade) took out the TAB Long May We Play Pace, followed by Whereyagoinbabe (Changeover-Farewell Babe (Die Laughing) in the very next race. Finally, in the last race of the night, the cousins cheered home an emotional victory for veteran pacer Stuart (D M Dilinger-Rose Of Sharon (Megamind).

“We thought they all had winning chances. It was my most successful night. I got a winning double with two horses I owned at Maitland one time. Stacie Elliott is my trainer up there,” Michael said.

Ashwood, of Bendigo, trained and drove Lucinda Jamar, while the other two were prepared by Reece Moore and driven by in-form freelance reinsman Jack Laugher.

“I probably own about a dozen horses at the moment and they are with Elliott, Ashwood and Moore. I thoroughly enjoy the sport and most of my horses are cheapies,” Michael said.

“I’m trying to get some success and then turn them over. They are usually reasonably priced and that leaves some fat in it for the next owners. I’m having heaps of fun and my family is also right into it.

“Ultimately I want to build up a strong team and that may mean purchasing some nice ones from New Zealand.”

Falvo said when Vallelonga and Anderson moved away from Euston, he lost a little contact with the sport.

“I always knew that I wanted to get back into it and I never lost the hunger for it,” Falvo said.

“I would buy harness racing magazines and I’ve got fond memories of sitting on the grassy hill watching meetings at the old Nyah track. Back then there used to be picnic meetings in my hometown of Robinvale and I’d always get to Mildura as much as I could.

“One of my most memorable moments was meeting former Anderson trainer Glenn Tippet, who at the time was preparing the champ Franco Tiger. I had my photo taken with them and both Tippet and driver Brian Gath autographed it. I was only a kid and to me, talk about being with harness royalty!

“Over the years we’ve met some nice people in the industry-that’s been so enjoyable.”

Falvo said one of his mates in Scott Garraway got him into a horse named Classic Arc about three years ago.

“I think the horse ended up winning a few in New South Wales, but that kick-started my interest again.

Now my wife Josie and our children Adriana, 17, Joseph, 15, and Dominic, 10, are taking a big interest, and Elliott, Ashwood and Moore have all done terrific jobs for us,” he said.

“Dominic in particular absolutely loves them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he became hands-on down the track. We have some horses spelling at our farm now and again and he’s always with them whenever he can.”

Most of the Falvo runners compete in the Falvo Fruits racing colors.

“That’s the name of our company and the colors feature our logo. We’ve had them since day one.”
Falvo said 12-year-old Stuart’s victory was a sentimental one for the family.

“Stuart is a gentleman and our favorite. He got badly kicked a while ago and come to us to spend time in a paddock while he was healing. Stacie did well with him in NSW and then I thought I’d retire him. But Reece rang me and wanted another go with him.

“He said there’s one more win left in him, so after the other night he was to be retired. But who knows, there could be another change of heart now!”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink