From the salon to the sulky: Lyons makes perfect debut

Twenty-year-old harness racing driver Ella Lyons, who joined an elite group by winning at her first race drive, is already hungry for more success.

The (Queensland) Gold Coast local helps at the stables of Vic Frost and his wife Gail Geeson and admits she never really imagined herself in the sulky.

“I was just happy helping out and learning as much as I could,” Ella said.

“I’ve now been going out to their stables at Pottsville for nearly four years. I was just doing the normal stable duties and then one day they asked if I wanted to jump in the gig and it progressed from there,” she said.

“Then I started driving in trials less than 12 months ago, got my licence and now I absolutely love it.”

Lyons drove a well-rated, front-running race to land 5/1 chance Barrett (Bettors Delight) at Redcliffe a fortnight ago for Tweed Heads West trainer John Boserio.

“I’ve had a few drives since for one placing – so hopefully I get my next winner very soon,” Ella laughed.

Away from the racetrack, Lyons works as a hairdresser in a salon owned by a friend – a job that unexpectedly helped shape her harness racing journey.

“That’s actually where I got to know Vic – he became a regular for a haircut,” she said.

“I did Pony Club when I was younger. I had an old thoroughbred mare initially and then later had another thoroughbred.

“Then I spent a few years with gallops trainers David McColm and Pete Sinclair. That involved lots of very early mornings doing stable work. I liked riding, but I was never going to be a jockey.”

Lyons said she had learned enormously under the guidance of Frost and Geeson, a highly respected harness racing couple.

“They’re the best. They’ve given me so many opportunities and I’m loving every minute,” she said.

Frost and Geeson, who both trained 10 winners last season, relocated to their northern NSW training base in mid-1994. Frost is also widely recognised for the major role he has played in developing young drivers.

When he stepped away from race driving, Frost helped mould the early careers of standout reinspeople including Luke McCarthy, Shane Graham, Matt Elkins, Trent Dawson and more recently Hayden Barnes.

Inducted into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2022, Frost will forever be remembered as the man who trained, or was associated with, such champion pacers as Westburn Grant, Lucky Creed, Chandon, Gotta Go Cullen and Sly Flyin.

And few will forget the famous night at Moonee Valley in 1992 when Frost saluted with Westburn Grant (Land Grant) – known affectionately around the stables as “Spot” – in the Interdominion Final, beating Franco Tiger and Blossom Lady.

“I had been trying most of my life to get into an Inter. I eventually got there and to do it with Westburn Grant is at the top of my career highlights,” Frost said in a recent interview.

A three-time Australasian Grand Circuit champion, Westburn Grant retired in 1993 after winning 38 of his 67 starts and earning more than $2 million, with multiple Grand Circuit wins including two Miracle Miles, WA and SA Cups.

He lived a long and healthy life before passing away in 2020, just short of his 35th birthday, and is buried on the couple’s property.

by  Terry Gange for Harnesslink