Bruce Harpley has been involved in harness racing longer than he cares to remember.
He has enjoyed success at the highest level in the industry but confirmed two-year-old filly Rubies For Tash had shown him another side to the sport he loves and lives for.
Up until the birth of the daughter of Courage Under Fire, Harpley never had any interest in watching a foal develop into a racehorse.
However after Harley and his wife Tash bred the filly he found himself paying more attention to the young foal.
"It is the first time we've bred and had around from the time she was born, I've never been one of those trainers who takes too much notice of a horse developing a character and traits but it has been different with Rubies For Tash, I've really enjoyed watching her develop," Harpley said.
"We bought the filly's mother Roses For Tash and she was a good mare for us."
" She was by Brioso Hanover, won a few races at Harold Park and now has produced this filly that I think will do a really good job during her career."
Rubies For Tash has always showed ability and Harpley isn't surprised she has made such a good start to her racing career.
"From early on she was a bit bossy with the other foals which I liked about her."
"Trevor and Judy Rutland broke her in for me, I remember them saying speed is definitely not going to be an issue for her and I had the same opinion when I had my first drive of her."
"When she had her first race start she showed a great turn of foot off a very slow speed and that got me pretty excited because that normally means there is something special inside."
While barrier fourteen will mean Rubies For Tash will have to produce something special to win, Harpley believes the bigger Bathurst track will help.
"If you drew outside the second row on the old Bathurst track the task would have been impossible but on the bigger track you have the option of saving them up for one last shot at the leaders and the barrier draw will mean I will have to do that."
"I love two-year-old racing, the older horses just fill a gap between the crops of youngsters coming through my stable."
"The babies are like a blank canvas – you don't know whether you are going to create a Picasso, a Ken Done or a picture that a four-year-old child could draw with crayons."
"That is the beauty of preparing young horses, you go on the ride with them," Bruce said.
Harpley is not labelling a particular rival the hardest to beat and is quick to acknowledge all of the fillies in Saturday's Gold Tiara have earned their spot in the final.
"The draw has made the race very interesting and a leading trainer like Cran Dalgety wouldn't have sent Millwood Daisy over from New Zealand if he didn't think she could win, but I reckon there would be several other trainers going into the race that think with the right luck they can win."
"Rubies For Tash is eligible for the Breeders Challenge and the Breeders Crown later in the season, I'm not going to ask too much of her but I do think she is going to improve as she continues to develop," Bruce said.
The Slingsby Holdings Gold Tiara is race five on Saturday night and is scheduled to being at 8:20pm.
Greg Hayes