Zeke Slater had a dream start to his harness racing training career when his lightly raced five-year-old Our Ellas Fella scored an impressive all-the-way win in the opening race on the eight-event card in Hobart on Monday night.
It was Slater’s first starter as a trainer and the gelding made every post a winner on his way to a comfortable victory over Glenfern Cruiser and outsider Carrigdhoun.
Slater has been tinkering with harness racing for a few years with moderate success in the sulky but it was a switch to the thoroughbred code that resulted in him securing his harness trainer’s licence.
Our Ellas Fella began well from his wide gate outside the front line but he had enough early speed to cross to the front after travelling only 300 metres.
Once in front Slater rated the horse superbly and went on to score comfortably, although he switched off about 100 metres out and Slater was forced to encourage his charge to the line.
Listen to what trainer-driver Zeke Slater had to say about training a winner at his first attempt – click here.