Tay Tay ready to shake off cobwebs with Melton return

Bendigo trainer-driver Alex Ashwood is hoping the return of one of his stable stars can add to what has already been a memorable week.

The 27-year-old notched up his 100th career training win with Cheeky Eagle at Cobram on Thursday and is looking forward to Tay Tay making her much-anticipated comeback to the races at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

After a busy few months, Ashwood sent the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven for a well-earned break off the back of her Vicbred Silver Series victory in December.

"She had a pretty hectic back end of the season with the Breeders Crown and Vicbred. She went for a good spell, had eight weeks off and really developed during that time off.”

The now four-year old mare makes her return against some race-fit metropolitan horses, however Ashwood still has high hopes that Tay Tay can acquit herself well after a little over four months away from the track.

“I am pretty confident going into Saturday night,” Ashwood said.

“She finds a nice race, but whatever she does she will improve on again. Every campaign she has had we have seen the best of her with three or four starts under her belt, but she is pretty forward, her last trial was pretty good and she had plenty left in the locker which was pretty encouraging.”

Tay Tay didn’t have it easy in the back end of last season, taking on what some have referred to as a “golden generation” of fillies, but it’s something Ashwood thinks has benefited his horse.

“She has improved off the back off her last campaign. I think the hard racing against the likes of Tough Tilly, Joanna and Ladies In Red has really seasoned her,” he said.

Ashwood is taking it one race at a time, but does hold out hope that a trip north for the Queensland winter carnival could be on the cards.

“We’re thinking about going to Queensland for the Golden Showgirl, but there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge before we decide that,” he said.

“But if she comes through her first couple of runs well, that’s the aim and it would be nice if she could get an invite to the Rising Sun.”

Longer term, the Victorian features are once again firmly on the agenda.

“Her main aim once again is the Breeders Crown and Vicbred at the end of the season, plus there are some nice feature mares’ races along the way.”

When asked where Tay Tay sits among the best horses he has trained, Ashwood has no hesitations.

“She’s the best pacer I’ve had by a country mile, but Parisian Artiste is the best horse in the stable, he is back in work too so it’s pretty exciting.”

Tay Tay will be driven by Ashwood in Saturday night's DNR Logistics Pace, which is one of 12 races on a blockbuster Group 1 card at Victorian harness headquarters.

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