Ashwood has completed the first three races at Melton and will then fly to Christchurch on Monday to join partner Tayla French as they chase the biggest win of their career with Parisian Artiste (Love you) in the $NZ400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot in Addington on Tuesday.
“This is what you’re in the game for, moments like next Tuesday,” Ashwood said. “It’s a huge thrill for us to have a runner in one of the feature races on such a big day as NZ Cup Day.
“I’ve been before, but it was just as a spectator when I was very young. That was great, but to go back with a runner is something else.”
The Parisian Artiste arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday and was joined by French, who said the stylish trotter had handled the trip well.
The gelding has overcome a series of injury setbacks to become one of the best trotters in Australia, as evidenced by beating Arcee Phoenix in a heat of the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July and then finishing a brave fifth in the final.
It was those series and the Parisian Artiste’s good record in standing start races that prompted Ashwood and French to pursue their dream.
“He likes to keep racing, so the 3200m will really suit him,” Ashwood said. “He is also good from the position and hopefully that will give him the opportunity to work forward and find the lead.
“He’s fantastic up front. That’s our best chance.”
“I went back recently and saw that he had only been beaten once when he was leading, and that was a long time ago when he was galloping as a three-year-old and I rode him.”
French is now the Parisian Artiste’s regular driver and we really hit it off with him.
He was given a break after the Inter Dominion and should be ready after three runs back from a spell, including an easy sprint win at Menangle two starts back.
Ashwood warned not to read too much into the last start in 11e in the Group 1 Bill Collins Mile at Melton on October 18.
“He was not suited to the sprint trip, the draw or the flow of the race,” he said. “He had to three wide from the field without cover as the leaders ran home in super times.
“There’s something about Melton with him too. He just never seems to run at his best there.”
“But if we take him away he goes to another level, whether it’s Albion Park or Menangle.
“That’s the other key to the trip, the big (1200 metres) Addington circuit, which we think will suit him so much better than Melton.
“Hopefully he gets the right kind of run to show his best and make us proud.”
The Parisian Artiste is one of four Australians tackling the Dominion. Two other Victorians – Jilliby Ballerini and Arcee Phoenix – will be joined by talented Queenslander, Gus, in New Zealand’s most prestigious harness racing.
Back to Melton on Saturday night and Ashwood thinks Emily Vincent in race three is his best chance of the evening.
“She’s doing well and (trainer Adam Stephens’) stable is on fire at the moment. She’ll run a good race,” he said.
Ashwood also rides Bizzness Class in race one and Rick Reilly in race two.
Through Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia
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