One of South Australia’s promising young reinsmen Ken Rogers celebrated his return to driving with an all the way win on Downtools in the Clay and Mineral Sales Claiming Pace (2230m).
It was Rogers’ fifth drive back from a 15 month time on the sidelines through suspension and disqualification for drug offences.
“You don’t know what you’ve got until it is taken away from you,” Rogers said.
“I love harness racing, and I missed it so much.
“There is nothing better than getting up each morning and working with the horses, and driving in races.”
Rogers is back working in the stables for his father Greg and trainer Aaron Brown at Gawler.
It was Brown who gave Rogers the winning drive on Downtools.
“It is great to get the monkey off my back and all systems go now,” Rogers added.
He took the $2.40 favourite to the front and rated him perfectly to score a 1-1/2 metre win from Finbar Abbey ($4.40) with Nobody Knows ($7.50) a further six metres away third.
Downtools is another pacer who came to South Australia for owner George Montebello and was with Brown.
The seven-year-old was claimed earlier this year by Gina Bell but was reclaimed by Brown.
“I guess he could end up with someone else again by running him in the claimers but that is the chance we’ll take,” Brown said.
“Downtools has been a good horse for us and when in front he is always going to be hard to beat.
“I actually thought he might have been claimed tonight but he wasn’t and I’m happy to take him home.”
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