Trots Centre: Young Lach finds the key to flourishing career

Lachlan Prothero isn't afraid to roll the sleeves up and have a crack. And that's just what he's doing.

The emerging trainer is turning heads in the Mildura region after a promising start to his career, which has netted 31 winners from only 169 starters.

The 21-year-old is the ninth youngest participant to hold a trainer's licence in Australia and the second youngest in Victoria. Blake Caruana is the youngest in both categories at just 19.

Prothero will have seven runners step out at tonight's Mildura meeting including the well-performed Egodan, who is perhaps the most talented horse to set foot in the Birdwoodton stable.

He was sent to Prothero by owner Danny Zavitsanos and had won close to $300,000 for an assortment of trainers, including Vince Vallelonga, Kevin Pizzuto and Emma Stewart.

Zavitsanos has been a big help in kick-starting Prothero's career and has a share in half of the 10-horse team.

"Before I got Egodan, I wasn't very known. I was just one of the trainers up at Mildura," Prothero, the son of fellow trainer Andrew, said.

"A horse like him, it makes you stand out as a trainer. He's a good horse and anyone could pretty much train him from what I could gather.

"A good horse like him has got me a few new owners into the stable and a few new horses from Adelaide.

"To think you'd train a horse within your second year of training that's won $300,000 and raced in Inter Dominion heats ... it's pretty special."

The son of Sportswriter has won four of six runs for Prothero and looks a good chance of returning to winning ways despite a back row draw in the Tasco Petroleum Pace (1790m).

In what shapes as a cracking NR 66-120 affair over the sprint trip, Egodan will come up against sparring partners Murranji Track and Bernie Winkle, who has won all six of his starts since relocating from Glenn Douglas' stables to Geoff Lucas' team.

"My three best chances I'd say would be Vin Dan, Egodan and Pur Dan," Prothero, a member of the Mildura Harness Racing Club committee, said.

"With Egodan, it's a little bit tougher field than what he has been racing with Bernie Winkle back up here, but Bernie Winkle and him, in my opinion, are on very similar marks. They both have got the same ability, the only benefit with my bloke is he can do a bit of work.

"He's good enough to win, but we will just see how the race pans out."

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