Upset win breaks five-year drought

A PAIR of lengthy droughts were broken with one victory in Young last night.

Causing a $26 upset over 1720 metres, Harley James registered his first win in 42 months.

Harley James’ previous success was in Dubbo on Boxing Day 2017 when driven by Matthew Robb for his trainer-father, Terence.

“It’s been a long time coming for this horse,” Terence said. “He’s run some placings and been thereabouts a few times…he just hasn’t been able to win until now.”

While he has enjoyed a few trips to the winners’ circle with other stable representatives during the interim, Harley James’ triumph was Terence’s first as a driver in almost half a decade!

“I have to be honest I don’t remember the last win I had as a driver,” Terence said. “I know it was a while ago.

“You’re stretching my memory there!”

For the record, Terence’s previous win was behind Grinorama in Dubbo on July 17, 2016.

“Like I said, it’s been a long time,” Terence said.

After being settled two-back along the pegs from the inside of the second row, Harley James was angled three-wide around the final bend.

Finishing stoutly along the straight, the son of Flightpath completed a three-metre win from Bettorbetbig.

Hello Miss Kitty was four-and-a-half metres away third in 1:59.2.

“He got a lovely trip and everything finally fell into place for him,” Terence said. “Around the turn I was starting to think this was his night and I’m glad he got there.”

Owned by Terence, who is a respected clerk of the course, Harley James is named after the horseman’s grandson.

“Since naming this horse I’ve got two more grandsons, Thomas Joseph and Bentley Joseph, so I need to find two more colts,” Terence said.

“I’ve got a few horses to come into work, which are fillies, so maybe my kids need to work on a granddaughter!”