Mitchell Chapple has had the best work experience week you could ever dream of. Chapple, from Maitland accompanied Ellalong trainer Michael Formosa to Queensland for the Winter Carnival to be an extra work hand.
“Mick offered me the trip to help out around the horses and I have gained a lot of experience and met a lot of great people. We stayed at Shannon Price’s property and it is a brilliant set up, awesome” said Chapple.
It soon turned from work experience to a winning drive when Chapple jumped at the opportunity, when offered by Michael Formosa, to take the drive behind Mondo Seelster at the Redcliffe meeting last Wednesday.
With the track unknown to Chapple he drove a perfect race to have a one hundred percent winning strike rate.
“It was pretty good, the horse (Mondo Seelster) was travelling well but I thought when the leader got away he might have been hard to catch but the horse dug deep”
Floweronthewall led the field with Mondo Seelster racing three back on the pegs. Chapple extricated Mondo Seelster off the pegs in the back straight and powered three wide around the last bend for a 3m win over race favourite Floweronthewall with Jack Frost a half head away third.
From nine drives behind Mondo Seelster, Chapple has produced three wins and four placings.
“We are a combination now,” Chapple joked.
Mitch is the son of Hunter Valley reinsman Guy Chapple and there may be a slight touch of competition in the future between the two.
“Dad has driven two winners in Queensland,’ said Chapple, so there may well be a return trip for Chapple junior.
It was only two days later that Mitch Chapple was offered a drive at Albion Park behind the Steve Cini trained All About Art.
“Mum (Ange) owns a part share in All About Art and he had hit his mark in NSW so we sent him to Queensland to race.”
There was no pressure for young Chapple with All About Art finishing fourth to Isaac in the Hear All The Action Radio Pace.
“They were all happy we got a run and I was driving.
“It was the best experience, I learnt not only from Mick but learning from other people around me and driving on different tracks is an experience I am glad I had.”
But it will be a reality check for 17 yo Chapple when he lands back home in Maitland.
“I am back to College on Thursday.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
