Yarragon trotting trainer Rob Evans had the historians reaching for the record books after his horse Into You led throughout to win at the Warragul Pacing Bowl last Tuesday afternoon.
The general feeling was that it had been a few years since Rob’s previous winner as a trainer – and a look back at the results showed a lull of over three decades.
Rob had last tasted success thirty one years (and four days) before – when his horse Tara Wealth won the Darley Grange Beginners Pace at Warragul on January 15, 1985.
Although it has been an extremely long time between drinks for Rob, he has spent much of that time away from the trots.
It has only been in the last 18 months that he has returned to training, taking his time with four-year-old pacer Into You, who rewarded his patience with her first win on Tuesday.
The lightly raced mare possibly should have won before Tuesday, having turned in a few good minor placings in her short career.
An improving type, Into You should win further races, ensuring her trainer won’t have to wait too long for his next taste of success.
Rob prepares his horse from a training track he constructed on the property of fellow horseman Rob Trickey, across the road from the Yarragon Football Ground.
Into You is the first horse to be trained on the relatively new track.
The track design skills of Rob Evans have attracted interest among local trotting participants – he is currently constructing a new training track on the property of Drouin West horseman Gary Quinlan, to be built along the lines of the recently redeveloped Warragul Pacing Bowl track.
The eight events on Tuesday produced plenty of success for Gippsland trainers.
Trafalgar trotter Lazy Sunday claimed an overdue first race win in a division of the Trotters Handicap for the Hunter family.
Glenn Hunter took the reins for his brother Brett, the mares owner, and their trainer father Chris.
Young Gippsland horseman Matt Cormick also returned to the winners’ list when Mor Laag scored its third win from 62 starts in race four.
Matt drove 84 winners as a junior reinsman before taking a break from the sport.
He has recently returned to racing and prepared Mor Laag, owned by his grandfather, veteran trainer Des Kelly, to the horse’s first victory since July 2014.
Mor Laag had trialled well at Warragul recently in preparation for the seven-year-olds first race since November.
Cranbourne trained pacers performed well at the meeting with Rocknroll Gold winning the first race for trainer Michael Hughes, and Fiftyshadesofbrown turning in another honest performance to win a division of the Trotters Handicap for trainer Allan Lousada.
Terang horseman Darren Cole made a long trip across to compete – he was impressed with the Warragul facilities and the journey home was a happy one after Spot Ona Shadow won the fifth event.
Accountability scored in the Claiming Pace for Bacchus Marsh trainer Denis Grieve and driver Zac Phillips.
Drouin West mare Ymbro Toto continued her good run at Warragul with another victory in the last race.
The mare won at the previous Warragul meeting in December for owner Danny Ymer and trainer Gary Quinlan.
Guests of the Warragul Harness Racing Club on Tuesday included members of the Donvale Tunstall Probus Club.
Harness racing at Warragul takes a break now in preparation for the Warragul Cup meeting on Easter Sunday, March 27.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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