News Article

Ashwood praises talent of young driver

30 / 09 / 2014 Article by: TR Internal
Wade Rattray icon Click to enlarge

TALENTED Tasmanian harness racing trainer Rodney Ashwood says he got a “real buzz” out of preparing the winner of the David Medhurst Memorial Pace at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Sunday.

Ashwood was a close friend of Medhurst who sadly lost his life at a young age in a car accident last year at a time when he was making an impact as a trainer-driver.

Ashwood’s mare Belliciouslips led all the way to notch her first win for some time and the four-year-old mare was rated superbly by promising novice driver Wade Rattray who is the son of veteran trainer Kent Rattray.

“Wade is a very good young driver and he did a great job rating the mare superbly,” Ashwood said.

“I try and give the young drivers as many opportunities as I ca n because they are our future and I think we need to look closely at doing what we can to keep them in the game,” he said.

Belliciouslips showed good gate speed to easily hold the lead off the front line and when she was seriously challenged in the home straight she responded like a good horse to draw clear and win comfortably.

It was only the mare’s 14th start but it was her sixth win and Ashwood is confident she can add more wins as the season progresses.

Belliciouslips won twice at two and last season she had a win over Australian and Tasmanian 3YO Filly of the Year Barynya in a $10,000 fillies race in Hobart in January.

Listen to what trainer Rodney Ashwood had to say about Belliciouslips’ latest win.