Two wins have Charlie king of the Castle

Young New South Wales harness racing reinsman Charlie Castles is happy to have now got that winning feeling after arriving in Victoria for a short campaign a fortnight ago.

“I’ve been doing a small team of five with the main focus on the Breeders Crown series and also trying to pick up some VicBred bonuses with a few others,” Castles said.

And while five-times winner Gordons Bay (Captaintreacherous-Corzan Effect (Jeremes Jet) hasn’t enjoyed much luck in a heat and semi-final of the Crown, Castles showed a touch of class in landing a winning double with Regency and Jigamaroo at Bendigo on Tuesday night.

“It was the second time I’ve got a double-the first was at Goulburn a while ago. My boss James Rattray was pretty happy back home (in Exeter, north east of Goulburn) because Jigamaroo got his bonus,” Castles said.

“I guess I was excited as well because I’m a part-owner of the horse and he only really came down as a travelling companion for some of the others.”

Jigamaroo (Bettors Delight-Our Zellweger (Armbro Operative) put the writing on the wall that another win wasn’t far away when second at Maryborough nine days earlier.

Watch Jigamaroo’s win at Bendigo on Tuesday:

Castles said all the horses had settled in well at Keith Cotchin’s stables at Elmore and he thought both the Bendigo runners had reasonable chances.

“Regency is a nice young trotter and when I found the lead, I was very pleased,” he said.

The three-year-old son of Majestic Son didn’t put a foot wrong and lived up to his recent good trials form at Goulburn with an easy win.

Watch his Bendigo win below:

Castles said the plan was for him to return home late next week after Gordons Bay competes in a consolation event for the Breeders Crown.

“Things are starting to get busy at the stables with the NSW Inter Dominion series coming up. James will have Ignatius competing and we’re hopeful another one in Star Major might squeeze in,” he said.

“I haven’t worked Ignatius all that much, but he’s a lovely horse. I’ve had more to do with Star Major and actually drove him to break the track record at the Wagga track a few months ago in 1.50-3.”

Castles said he had his very first drive at Melbourne’s TABcorp park Melton last weekend.

“I finished seventh with Gordons Bay, but we drew barrier 13 which made it hard. We weren’t disgraced and I really liked the track,” he said.

Castles, who has been with the Rattray stable for 13 months, grew up in Devonport, Tasmania.

“Both sides of my parents have been involved in the sport. My dad Michael stills trains a few, along with Uncle John, while one of our neighbors is Gareth Rattray, James’ twin brother,” he said.

“I got my driver’s licence in December 2017, and I’m really enjoying it.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink