When you grow up in harness racing, it is sometimes hard to leave the sport.
Such was the case for Kyabram trainer Rodney Alley, who made a resurgence at Shepparton trots on Sunday following the victory of lightly-raced four-year-old Auckland Reactor-Embellished mare Pippi in the My Ride Shepparton Maiden Pace.
Driven by Chris Alford, Pippi was backed in from around a $34 fixed odds quote in the morning of the race and enjoyed a sweet trip in the one/one from gate nine.
Easing three wide on the final bend, Pippi ($7.20) swept to the front on turning to register an easy 12-metre win in advance of Yesmiijane (one/two), with Jet Jockey battling on gamely for third a head back. The mile rate was 1:58.6.
It’s been more than 20 years since Rodney, a talented junior reinsman in his day, drove numerous winners before vacating the sport, so long ago in fact that he couldn’t remember his last driving winner. (Editor's note: It was driving Classical Mover at Elmore on March 8, 1999)
A grandson of the late and great NSW-based Bert Alley, who was involved with some outstanding horses in the '60s. None were better than the great Apmat, who went down by a half length to Caduceus in the 1960 Harold Park Inter Dominion in front of a crowd of 50,346 patrons before protesting unsuccessfully.
Apmat and Bert also represented Australia in the USA, winning the 1961 Yonkers Good Time Pace. Bert later was to shift to Ascot Vale in Victoria, before re-locating to the provincials.
It’s not hard to imagine Rodney’s feelings after watching his mare cross the line in first place carrying the colours made famous by his grandfather.
Rodney teaches in Tongala and is eagerly awaiting Pippi’s next visit to the races.