Brighton trainer Kelly Reggett continued a strong family tradition when she trained her first winner, with only her second starter, in Launceston on Sunday night.
All For Dave, a horse she bred with her parents Zane and Sally Medhurst, was first up since October 2022 and proved too tough for his rivals in the 2698m Ladbrokes Sheffield Cup.
Driver Mark Yole positioned the $10 chance one-out and one-back and looked under pressure turning for home before hitting top gear late to run down Mister Gently ($6) in the concluding stages by 1.2m, with Puntarno Stride ($4 fav) a further 10m away third.
The pacer is named after Kelly’s late brother David, who passed away in September 2013.
“He is a special horse, not only for me but our family, trying to keep the legacy going for Dave.
“He is out of Chloes Princess that he trained and won one race with and we continued breeding with him after he passed away.
“So to get my first win with that horse is absolutely amazing,” Kelly said post-race.
Kelly, who trains the pacer alongside her husband Mark, said the pacer has his share of problems and that the Raider Stakes was the pacer’s main goal, providing he stays sound.
“Training had been in the back of my mind for some time to try and continue the dreams David and I had together; we always dreamed of breeding a horse and to try and win a Tasbred final.
“I don’t know if this horse will get to those heights, he has done a great job winning four of his eight starts, but he does have his problems,” she said.
The Sheffield Cup was one of many Devonport Harness Racing Club features held on the Launceston card. $41 chance Loyola Trios took out the Lucas Hotel Latrobe Cup, while Miss Papenhuyzen ($2) defeated stablemate Baby You A Song ($2.15) in the Alabar Leigh Plunkett.
