Brighton based driver Taylor Ford had a night out in Hobart Friday where she drove a treble on the seven-race card, but one of those winners stood out more than any other in her driving career.
Ford was great friends with the late David Medhurst who lost his life in 2013.
One of the horses David had in his care at the time was the Time Stands Still mare Chloes Princess.
His family decided to breed out of the mare with the first horse being Do It For Dave (seven wins) and after a lot of bad luck getting the mare in foal, the second horse was Just For Dave who won in good fashion on debut last night and Ford was pleased with the result.
“I have always dreamed of winning on a horse named after Dave, I had a few drives on Do It For Dave, but I couldn’t get the job done, but to win on Just For Dave tonight was one of the best feelings,” said the winning driver.
Just For Dave is trained by Zane Medhurst who officiated at last night’s meeting as the clerk of the course.
He also bred the horse with Sally Medhurst and Kelly Reggett, with Reggett now being the sole owner of the three-year-old son of Stonebridge Regal.
The pacer had three trials in December and hadn’t been seen in public in recent months until Friday’s debut effort.
“Zane has done a really good job with the horse, he had to have an operation on a hind leg early in his career, so he had to nurse him through that, and he has done a top job getting him spot-on for last night,” said Ford.
From barrier four Ford took the pacer straight to the lead over the mile trip before ending up behind the leader at the 1250 metre mark.
She then used the sprint lane over the concluding stages on the pacer to score by 6.4 metres in a time of 2m 1.4s for the mile trip at odds of $31.
“The way he finished off and raced away from them, I think he has a few more wins left in him that’s for sure. He is still a bit green, so there is still some improvement to come with him with more race experience,” said the winning driver.
The next two winners for Ford occurred with horses that she also trains.
Statement Please was sent out as a $15 chance and was able to record her fifth win of her racing career when she recorded a half-head victory over the well supported favourite Capitallee.
“I thought I was in a bit of trouble when I lobbed in the death early, so I was glad to see Mark (Yole, driver of Capitallee) come around and give me cover for the last lap and a bit,” said Ford.
“She loomed up like she was going to run straight past them, but they were all walking to the line, and she was the lucky one to have her head in front at the winning post,” explained the trainer-driver with the final quarter being the slowest of the race in 31.3s.
The Betterthancheddar mare is owned by Taylor’s sister Chloe.
Belligerence was the last winner of the night for Ford.
The five-year-old mare was having the first start for her stable and was sent around in last night’s race at odds of $19, but the win was of no surprise to her trainer-driver.
“I actually thought she was my best chance of the night, she had been working well at home and had improved in every trial I had given her,” the winning trainer-driver said.
“Last night I put the pull-down dollys on her, and she was really sharp to the line, I think there are a few more wins left in her if I can place her in the right races,” explained Ford.
It was the second time in Ford’s driving career that she had registered a driving treble, but it was the first time she had notched up a training double.
