Alex Ashwood’s mind will already be wandering towards New Zealand when he heads to Melton on Saturday night.
Ashwood has drives in 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 careers with Parisian Artiste in the $NZ400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday.
“This 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 main races on such a big day as NZ Cup Day.
“I’ve been once before, but that was just as a spectator when I was really young. That was amazing, but to be going back with a runner is something else.”
Parisian Artiste arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday and was joined by French, who said the classy trotter had handled the trip well.
The gelding has overcome a string 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 that series and Parisian Artiste’s good record in standing-start staying races which buoyed Ashwood and French to chase their dream.
“He loves staying races so the 3200m will really suit him” Ashwood said. “He’s also good from a stand and hopefully that gives him a chance to work forward and find the lead.
“He’s fantastic in front. That’s our best chance.
“I went back the other night and saw he’d only been beaten once when he’d led and that’s way back as a three-year-old when he galloped and I was driving him.”
French is now Parisian Artiste’s regular driver and has really clicked with him.
He was given a break after the Inter Dominion and should be primed 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 11th in the Group 1 Bill Collins Mile at Melton on October 18.
“He wasn’t suited by the sprint trip, the draw or how the race turned out,” he said. “He had to come three-wide from back in the field without cover when the leaders were running home in super times.
“There’s also something about Melton with him. He just never seems to run to his best there.
“But when we take him away, he goes to another level, whether it be Albion Park or Menangle.
“That’s the other key to the trip, the big (1200m) Addington track, which we think will suit him so much better than Melton.
“Hopefully he gets the right sort of run to show his best and makes us proud.”
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 NZ’s most prestigious trotting race.
Back to Melton Saturday night and Ashwood thinks Emily Vincent in race three is his best chance of the night.
“She’s going well and the stable (trainer Adam Stephens) is on fire at the moment. She’ll run a good race,” he said.
Ashwood also drives Bizzness Class in race one and Rick Reilly in the second race.
