Square gaiters look toward rich spoils

One of country Victoria’s exciting young trotters and a “forgotten” superstar are being aimed for Group One glory when the harness racing spotlight turns to TABcorp Park Melton next Saturday (Oct 8).

Formidable Bendigo four-year-old Parisian Artiste (Love You) made a timely bounce back to winning form for trainer Alex Ashwood and his partner driver Tayla French, while experienced Ecklin South horseman Mattie Craven has slowly but surely been getting the brilliant Pink Galahs (Skyvalley) ready for another campaign.

It’s hard to believe that Pink Galahs, a little mare with a big heart, has been off the racing scene for well over nine months—having not raced since finishing second at Melton on December 21 behind Ofortuna (Majestic Son).

“It was decided to give her a lengthy spell and be done with it. She has been back in work for a fair while with three official trials under her belt,” Craven said.

“We’ve been happy with her, and the plan is for another hit out at the trials and then into the Collins Sprint.”

Raced by industry legend Bryan Healy, of Māoris Idol fame, his daughter Lauren and her husband Caleb Lewis, the five-year-old has won the last two Bill Collins Trotters Sprint (1720m).

Both Parisian Artiste and Pink Galahs are among 69 nominations for the coming 2022 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship. Heats nights will be at Ballarat (Nov 26), Shepparton (Nov 29) and Geelong (Dec 3) with the finals at Melton (Dec 10).

Pink Galahs (18 career wins and 12 places from 41 starts) competed last year running third on two occasions and a second before finishing ninth in the final at Menangle to Māori Law (Lawman).

Parisian Artiste was a brilliant last start winner of the Trump Bloodstock G3 Swan Hill Trotters Cup, of $25,000, and the combination with French is proving to be a potent one, with nine wins and four minor placings from 16 outings over the past 13 months.

A delighted Ashwood is looking forward to the next few months with the gelding.

“He’s pretty rock solid at the moment. He’s certainly showing all the right indications that he’s getting back to his best,” Ashwood said.

“His first two runs after a lengthy spell showed he was a bit underdone, but then he went huge to win at Menangle.

“He missed away at his next run at Melton, and I thought he was outstanding in only being beaten 13 metres. Then at Swan Hill he was strong in winning.

“The horse is now holding his condition so we’re thinking the Collins Sprint is a perfect race for him. With a nice barrier, he’ll give a good sight.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink