Alicia Harrison's double whammy win at Cambridge

By Jordyn Bublitz 

Some victories mean a little more than others, and for Alicia Harrison, Thursday night's win at Cambridge Raceway was one she won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Not only did Harrison bring up her 100th driving success, but she also celebrated her first win as a trainer, with both milestones coming aboard Rebel Castleton, a horse with a particularly special place in her heart.

The gelding was the last horse Harrison shared with her late pop, Warren Taylor, who had trained him before she took over the reins.

“On that horse, it meant a lot. Being Pop's last horse that we had together, and obviously he was the reason I got into the game,” Harrison said.

“He loved that horse and thought a lot of him, and I was starting to wonder if we were ever going to get there with him.”

While Rebel Castleton has never lacked ability, getting him to show it on race day hasn't always been straightforward.

A strong track worker, the gelding has tested Harrison's patience with his tendency to get himself worked up before a race, often leaving little in reserve when it matters.

“We'd just gone through a month where he'd been too fit and too well, and he'd been absolutely off his head. I was running out of patience with him a little bit.”

A trip to the beach for some ridden work last Sunday appeared to do the trick, with Rebel Castleton showing a much more relaxed attitude throughout the week and carrying that into race night.

The difference was clear in Thursday's 2200m handicap trot, with Rebel Castleton leading from start to finish to claim the opener of the evening, the Skyline Lounge Open All Race Nights Handicap Trot.

The gelding took control of proceedings and never looked in danger, crossing the line ten-and-a-half lengths clear of runner-up No Intentions, with Substitute another three-quarters of a length back in third.

“Normally he's more of a handful at home than he is at the races, and this week he'd actually almost been too relaxed for him.

“I think just not pulling in the warm-up meant he actually showed his true ability at the end of the race.”

And show it he did, cruising to victory with plenty left in the tank.

“He did it really easily. I never really had to move, and he hit the line really well. It felt like he could have gone another round.”

With her century of driving wins now ticked off, Harrison says she's happy to continue driving her own horses while enjoying the training side of the sport.

“That was sort of my main goal, to get that hundred and say I've ticked off that achievement.

“I'm happy to be out there, just doing it for the love of it and enjoying it.”

Rebel Castleton has now headed out for a short break, but when he returns, Harrison will be hoping there's more success to come.

For now, though, Thursday's result is one she'll treasure, particularly knowing how much it would have meant to her pop.

“Definitely very special that we got the job done in those colours, and I'm sure he would’ve been watching and yelling advice at me from somewhere up there.”