“It felt bloody good,” winning driver Jackie Barker said. “It was awesome.”
A weekend of triumphant sporting underdogs was kick-started at Tabcorp Park Melton on Thursday night, when the concession driver’s metro career launched with victory in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap.
The John Meade-trained $12.70 shot Glorious Finale was Barker’s sole drive for the night, making for a hearty wait for the 20-year-old who made the journey from Hamilton to Melton “a bit after lunch” and counted down to her race, the night’s last.
“I didn’t want to be in a rush, especially for a drive like that. I watched a couple of races and then went and had a chat with John about the race,” she said. “I wasn’t really nervous. I’ve had a fair few drives now and I just looked at it as another drive. I didn’t want to think about how big a race it was for a concession driver like me, but just looked at it as just another race.”
There were certainly no signs of nerves, with Barker guiding Glorious Finale to a perfectly timed standing start.
“It all depended on how well he stepped out and luckily he stepped away really good,” she said. “The aim was to find the front and I was lucky enough to hold it, and then the plan was to hold it unless one of the favourites came around, which happened and I was happy for (Maorisfavouritesun) to find the front.”
With a little under a mile to come David Aiken, trainer and driver of $1.80 favourite Maorisfavouritesun, came knocking, overcoming his 10m handicap to take the lead.
“David Aiken kept the speed on, which suited my horse really well, and I was lucky enough to get out around the corner at the top of the straight.”
For Barker, this was a case of making the most of her opportunities, having diverted from her original plan to take what would prove the winning move.
“Down the back I was thinking sprint lane, but I saw David tapping his horse coming around the bend and that the horse outside (Heza Boy Star) had dropped off a bit,” she said.
“I thought it’s better to get out when you can. I knew that my horse can make up pretty good ground around bends, so it was better to not have to sit and wait for a sprint lane run when you never know what’s coming from the back.”
Before the 200m mark Barker eased Glorious Finale off the back of Maorisfavouritesun and by the 50m mark she had captured the lead, from where she survived a sprint lane burst by Kerryn Manning on Illcryifhewinds.
“We had the perfect run and the horse went really good,” Barker said. “I didn’t think my first metro drive would get a winner, let along being one on a trotter. Most concession drivers don’t get a go on good trotters, but John has been awesome and given me an opportunity.”
And, having relegated trots veterans and stars Manning and Aiken to the minor placings, Barker is hopeful the metro win would be the first of many.
“It’s a good way to start off my metro career and hopefully that gets me further drives in the future,” she said. “It’s back to normal, back to work and back to competing at the country races, which I love doing. Hopefully I will pick up a few more drivers from a few different trainers in the future.”
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS AND REPLAYS FROM THURSDAY NIGHT’S RACING
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
