Young Shepparton harness racing driver Bec Bartley is looking forward to renewing fond memories of her early days in the sport during next week’s Mildura Pacing Cup carnival.
Bartley, 27, was a regular competitor at Mildura for a two-year period from November 2011 as trainers sought her services, particularly because she was a junior concession driver obtaining a one class lift.
Next week the determined and hardworking horsewoman will be in the spotlight at the 2019 carnival with boom pacer San Carlo (Mach Three-Bridge Player (Classic Garry).
“I certainly did a big number of 10-hour return road trips to the top end of the State, but I got valuable experience through it all,” Bartley said.
“The racing is always competitive at Mildura and a few of the trainers were willing to give me a go when I was just starting out,” she said.
“I was lucky to persuade my parents David and Chris to do the long trip with me for a while, and other times I would meet up with drivers, like Ellen Tormey and Nigel Milne, along the way and we’d car pool and do some of the journey together.
“There are a few sharp bends and bumps on the road, and I reckon I could still remember them all!”
Bartley has drawn the eight alley with San Carlo in the second heat of the Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup on Tuesday night. The format of qualifying divisions leading into a $60,000 Group Two final is the only one of its kind in the State.
The three-night carnival, comprising Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday night racing, has been a favourite on the racing and social calendar for harness fans for many years.
“We finished runner-up with Shakahari last year behind Im The Boss (Kima Frenning) so naturally we are hoping to go one better this time,” Bartley said.
“San Carlo had a trial a while ago at Kilmore and I wasn’t all that excited with him, so we gave him another hit-out at Shepparton trials two nights ago and he was a lot better – he felt sharper and switched on.”
Bartley said trainer Steve O’Donoghue, of Morley Park Stud, always had the Mildura feature event in the back of his mind.
“We were here for the Italian Cup last October and the horse won well after doing all the work in the death-seat, clocking in at 1.55-9,” she said.
“He felt quite at home, so we know he is suited by the smaller (805 metre) track.”
It would be a fair bet to say that Bartley and O’Donoghue can now look back with irony at the considerable time they took to get San Carlo to the racetrack.
After O’Donoghue broke in the pacer, there were more than a few frustrations.
“He was very spooky and just difficult to do much with. Even getting a bridle on was a major task,” Bartley said.
“And then in his work on the track he had this habit of going around and around past things without any worries, and then he’d shy on the last time as if it was something new!” she said.
O’Donoghue gave the horse a number of preparations, finally managing to get him to stay in his gear and not gallop.
“I think he was an early three-year-old when we headed off to the trials. But he was back to his old tricks, so Steve gelded him, and he was turned out,” Bartley said.
“When he returned as a four-year-old he had a different attitude with improved manners, but he was still touchy.”
Two trials, nothing too spectacular, preceded a race debut at Bendigo in June, 2015.
Bartley crossed from a wide draw to the death seat and San Carlo showed he’d “turned the corner” with a 10-metre victory in 1.58-6 (last quarter 27.8).
He then posted five consecutive wins, before the honeymoon ended with a luckless fifth behind the brilliant Hector Jay Jay in a Group Two feature at Melton.
But Bartley was far from disappointed, as she knew from that day they had a well-above average horse.
Another spell was followed by a winning six-race sequence.
And San Carlo – named after Rome’s 17th century church of San Carlo alle Quatro Fontane – has risen to star status with Herculean performances in such prestigious events as the Inter Dominion series, the Bohemia Crystal FFA Group One and country cups.
His record speaks for itself with 25 wins and nine placings from just 45 outings for more than $400,000 in the bank.
Bartley said much of Morley Park’s success was due to “very good team” and facilities, including a swimming pool, allowing a balanced workload for a handy team of racehorses and youngsters.
“Steve and his wife Anne are both hands-on, as well as their sons Jono and Corey, who are always helping out whenever they can. We also have a few other stable helpers,” she said.
“We have a team of about 25 horses in work at the moment so there’s always plenty to do.”
San Carlo will come up against last start Ouyen Cup winner Brallos Pass (Ellen Tormey) in the second heat, while Emain Macha (Wayne Hill), Murranji Track (John Caldow), and Lucky Lombo will have admirers.
The first qualifying heat sees well-credentialed Reciprocity (Kerryn Manning) do battle with Perspective, Resurgent Spirit and local hope Rocknroll Eyes.
Terry Gange
NewsAlert PR Mildura