21-year-old Brighton trainer-driver Taylor Ford continued a strong family tradition in Launceston on Wednesday night when she recorded her first win as a trainer in the Sunrise Bakery Stakes with the Bettors Delight gelding Bettor Than That.
Ford spoke confidently about the chances of the six-year-old gelding on Tasracing’s Live Stream coverage prior to the race and she drove a confident race taking Bettor Than That to the spot outside the leader soon after the start.
Bettor Than That was travelling well at the top of the home straight and when Ford asked the pacer for the supreme effort he was able to hold of Pink Ponder by 1.1 metres over the concluding stages in a mile rate of 1m 58.0s.
The only hesitation Ford had going into the race was that the pacer was first-up since late May.
“I was a bit worried about him being first up for a few months but the way he won there are a few wins left in him,” said Ford.
The junior driver described her first training win as “one of the best feelings ever”.
“It has always been a dream of mine to go out training, I can’t thank Bianca (Heenan) enough for everything she has done for me,” Ford explained.
“I have plenty of other support too from Zane and Sally Medhurst, Mark and Kelly Reggett, Ben Woodsford who helps around the stables along with my partner Maggie (Ashwood),” added Ford
Ford was also appreciative of her father Phillip and mother Tammy for their support into her gaining her trainer’s license.
Bettor Than That is raced by Taylor and Philip along with Robert Cunningham, who has raced horses with a few trainers over the years including the Ford family.
Ford has 10 horses in work, the most number she can have on a B grade trainers license.
It was a big night on the track with driver Conor Crook and trainer Rohan Hillier teaming up for a double on the card with Sheza Bettormak and Awayandrideyourself. Hillier also drove Blingittothemax in race one while Crook made it a treble on the card with Moonlite Bay.
Marc Butler continued his good run with Full Speed Ahead out staying short-priced favourite Ryley Major in the Free-For-All while Similan Beach notched up a winning hat-trick later in the night.
Bettors Delight gelding Impassable pulled off a plunge to score at his first race start in 1270 days after being sidelined through injury.
Comments from the winning drivers on Tasracing’s Live Stream Coverage;
Race 1: Blingittothemax – Rohan Hillier – “He got a good run through, it all worked out well for him but in saying that it was a quick last half and I think he hit the line really well.”
Race 2: Impassable – John Walters – “We worked out of the gate and got good run, he sprinted home good and got to the line good.”
Race 3: Sheza Bettormak – Conor Crook – “She had two birthdays today, one was in the run with about a 65 (seconds) first half and the other is she was actually born on this day.”
Race 4: Bettor Than That – Taylor Ford – “I was a bit worried about him being first up for a few months but the way he won there are a few wins left in him.”
Race 5: Awayandrideyourself – Conor Crook – “He came out pretty good … it was a good job, they flushed us out at the bell which I really didn’t want to do as we did burn early but he got the job done, he is a pretty nice horse I think.”
Race 6: Full Speed Ahead – Todd Rattray – “I was half going to hand up and half wasn’t so I thought I might as well hold the front as he was on the bit and it worked out.”
Race 7: Moonlite Bay – Conor Crook – “He went really good, he is a big raw fella but he did a good job.”
Race 8: Similan Beach – Ricky Duggan – “I think Barry (Cooper) and Jamie (Cockshutt) are toying with the idea of giving him a month or two up in Sydney, it will be just interesting to see what they do with him now.”
You can watch all of last night’s pre and post-race interviews on TasracingTV On Demand here.
Duncan Dornauf