Trots Centre: Guns loaded as Ewen eyes Melton success

Not everything’s run to script since Scott Ewen shipped from South Australia to Cranbourne, but the trainer-driver’s ridden the bumps and is optimistic that opportunity knocks at Tabcorp Park tonight.

Ewen’s two strongest performers, Bulletproof Boy and Penny Bobbins, are well placed to add to his win total, which stands at four since he moved east at the start of the 2019-20 season.

Based at Cranbourne’s flagship training centre, he said he appreciated that Victoria has continued racing amid the challenges of covid-19.

“We live off it and we have got to hope things keep going for us, because I don’t have another job to go too,” he said.

“We have been soldiering on and finding our feet. I’ve had four winners since I have been here, but there have also been enough placings and driver’s fees that I am still better off than I probably would have been at home.”

Region-based racing has brought both challenges and opportunities.

“The first time time it was probably lucky that Bulletproof Boy was ready for a break,” he said. “For Penny Bobbins and co is wasn’t too bad, but because we were locked in with Kilmore we had some really good horses in our area, who would otherwise be racing at Melton.

“This (latest) time is a little bit better because a lot of quality horses are in other areas and we can race at Melton as well as at home.”

Ewen has had 61 starts this season, four of which have come from his two-year-old brigade that are from Cranbourne’s Club 21.

The “four babies” consist of unraced trotter Copacabana, who’s having a short let-up after a knock on her hind leg, pacing pair Classy Countess and The Falcon Prince who have each had two starts, and a further as yet unnamed filly, who’s by Somebeachsomewhere out of Illawong Sister Styx.

“The good thing about babies you get to see them progress,” he said. “The two that had starts have got experience out of it, hopefully they will be better for it and come back better.”

But there’s no doubt the bulk of the heavylifting this season has been done by Penny Bobbins (21 starts for one win and eight placings) and Bulletproof Boy (20 starts for three wins and two placings).

The former is well fancied in tonight’s Woodlands Stud Pace, which streams at 6.32pm on Trots Vision, and should be able to get into a competitive position early, being the only starter on the back row.

“There are only seven in it, she can come one-off and work things out, I give her a big chance,” Ewen said.

“She has to be up in the first four or five, it makes life a lot easier for her. At Melton you don’t have to pull out too early, it’s such a long straight. I am rapt with her. She’s consistent, but she’s not one you can confidently say will win.”

While GoodForm analyst Blake Redden’s marked Penny Bobbins a $2.60 favourite, he has Bulletproof Boy a $10 chance in the race to follow, an extremely even Allied Express Pace.

A winner at Melton only two starts back, Bulletproof Boy struggled for a run last start.

“He was bolting last week,” Ewen said. “I give him a big hope tomorrow night, if leading or if he doesn’t. He is suited either way.

“I love the horse, he is one of the best I have had in my life. He’s very quick and can rattle home.”

And, most pleasing for Ewen, his prized pacer’s kryptonite – that “he was getting too fierce and wanting to pull” – seems to have been overcome.

“I put a nose veil on him, which I have never been a big believer in, but he is a changed horse. He sits beautifully now. It is a big bonus for him,” he said.

“He’s good off the speed and if he gets in front and doesn’t get too much pressure he can lead as well.

“He’s getting better and better and once we get out of the lockdown I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

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