After a quiet 2021 in the sulky, young reinswoman Ellen Rixon has rediscovered her love for harness racing and is now looking to establish herself in the competitive driving ranks of Victoria.

The 23-year-old has recently moved from her home in New South Wales and joined the Courtney Slater stable, which operates out of Beeac, near Colac.

Rixon, who started driving in the 2014-15 season and has over 160 wins to her name, is yet to taste success in her adopted home state but gets the chance to shine on the big stage this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.

She will team up with Paul Parsons-trained Our Bella Lucia when she goes around as one of the outsiders in the Group 2 APG Vic 4YO Consolation Final.

Rixon hails from a family of harness racing stars, with her grandfather the late Tony Turnbull of Hondo Grattan fame and her parents Peter and Cindy Rixon well known for their feats on the track. Peter trained and drove Divisive, who triumphed in a Miracle Mile, and Cindy has over 300 winners to her name as a reinswoman.

Ellen was this week’s special guest on Trots Talk and she spoke about reigniting her driving career and starting fresh here in Victoria.

“I love it. I stopped for a bit, I’m a beauty therapist and I wasn’t driving as much the last 12 months and my heart wasn’t really in it,” Rixon, a past New South Wales Rising Stars champion, said.

“It was sitting well with me because I was ready and I just felt like a fresh start anyway.

“But once you’re here and people don’t know you, it is a little bit daunting because I’m used to being at the trots and you know everyone.

“But everyone is lovely and it’s just really good to be driving again. I really missed it.”

Rixon drove a winner for Slater at Penrith some time ago and that success started a friendship that has resulted in a major career move across the border.

“I love driving and still have a three-point claim so at the moment I’m just happy to keep going where I am and hopefully get a few winners and meet new people,” she said.

“But I love working them as well so I think one day I can hopefully train as well.”

Rixon has had five drives since making the move to Victoria and has the booking of Slater-trained Ynobe Dakota in the APG Vic Gold Bullion 2YO Fillies Heat at Ballarat tonight.

Picture courtesy of Harness Racing NSW

LISTEN TO RIXON ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF TROTS TALK BELOW: