10 February 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Young reinsman Charlie Castles recently returned to Tasmania from a stint in New South Wales, seeing the concession driver develop his harness racing career.
Fresh off a career best 23 win season in 2021, it didn’t take long for the 21-year-old to find the winners list on his return to Tasmania, scoring with Im Rock Solid at Carrick Park last week, and the driver will be hoping he won’t have to wait long for his next winner.
He will have four chances to be back in the winner’s list on the seven-race card in Devonport on Friday evening, with Castles rating Im Rock Solid as his best winning chance.
The Shane Boon prepared gelding has drawn outside of the second-row in the CUB Mobile, which will be run over the 2665m trip.
Im Rock Solid showed his liking to the longer distance when breaking the Carrick Park 2650m track record on Sunday, when scoring by 1.5m in 2m 0.7s, breaking a record that has stood since 2002.
Admittedly there has been limited races of that distance from the mobile at Carrick Park in recent years.
“He had a nice soft run on the inside, and they ran along at a good clip, which helped him, as he is not fast but will keep whacking away,” said Castles about last weeks win.
“He shouldn’t be too far away with the right run on Friday,” added the reinsman.
Castles has spent the past 18-months in New South Wales, working for former Tasmanian and duel Inter Dominion winning trainer-driver James Rattray.
“I really enjoyed my time away. It was a great opportunity, I learnt a lot off James (Rattray), and he gave me many handy drives on some of his better ones,” explained Castles.
Castles has plenty of education on his mind with his return to the island state.
He is currently an assistant teacher for a primary school in the Devonport area, while he plans to continue studies.
“I help uncle John get the horses done before I go to work, and the job works out well with the races on the weekend.
“I also plan on studying an equine dentistry course,” Castles said.
Friday’s Devonport meeting will be televised on Sky Racing 2 and TasracingTV from 17:15.
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