Young reinsmen Liam Older and Alex Ashwood are set to compete in the Sprinters Calcutta Cup as part of Mildura’s Pacing for Pink meeting on Friday night.
The event will see 16 drivers, trainers and Clerks of the Course put their horses to the side and power over 100 meters on foot.
Older, 19, is hoping his prior sporting expertise will hold him in good stead for the sprint.
“I played footy and cricket and I do a fair bit of running now but not much sprinting,” Older said. “If there was a market, I would say I am five dollars and drifting.”
The shorter distance doesn’t suit the young horseman.
“Just looking at it there is probably a few that are a bit sharper over the 100 meters. If it was over a kilometre, I reckon I would have them covered,” he said.
The handicapper hasn’t favoured Older, setting him as the joint backmarker off 100 meters alongside the likes of fellow drivers Luke Dunne and Jordan Leedham.
“I will give you a tip, I reckon Alex Ashwood is the winner,” Older said.
Trainer-driver Ashwood is optimistic about his chances.
“I am pretty confident,” Ashwood said.” As long as the hamstrings and the Achilles hold up.”
Ashwood has had a fitness and dietary plan thrust upon him by partner, Tayla French.
“Tayla (French) has trained me pretty well this week. I have been on a good diet. I am raring to go,” he said.
Both reinsmen know the Sprinters Calcutta Cup is just a side dish to a much greater cause.
“I have had very close family connected to breast cancer; I understand how important it is. I think Kate Attard and the girls up in Mildura have done a great job,” Older said.
“I know a lot of people are talking about the run, so that is the main thing. To get people talking.”
Ashwood, 30, is just happy to play a small role in a very good cause.
“I think everyone knows someone in their family present or past who has been diagnosed. It is just a great cause to be a part of,” Ashwood said.
All runners are currently in an auction, and the overall race winner secures their bidder a percentage of the pool. The rest is donated to the Pacing for Pink tally for the McGrath Foundation.
You can bid for a runner or some of the auction items up for grabs here.
TrotsVision will broadcast the Sprinters Calcutta Cup, which is set to go after the seventh race shortly after 9pm.
Off 100m: Jordan Leedham, Luke Dunne, Corey Johnson, Ryan Backhouse, Liam Older
90m: Wayne Hill, Michelle Phillips, Charli Masotti
85m: Alex Ashwood, Michael Gadsden, Aaron Coad
80m: Andrew Vozlic, Boris Devcic, Alby Mangles, Ros Rolfe
65m: Barry Sambrooks
