Trainer-driver Mat Rue. Photo by Club Menangle
It was quite a decision to make for Western Districts based horseman Mat Rue to move from the region’s epicentre of Bathurst and back to his hometown of Canowindra, but the Miracle Mile winning reinsman is now starting to reap the rewards.
Rue has been on quite the journey since his teenage days when he decided that harness racing would be his future, spending time working with and learning from some of the sport’s best - worldwide which included a short stint in the States.
Eighteen months ago, Rue decided to leave Bathurst where he was training his team from the showgrounds to set up his own facility on the outskirts of Canowindra.
And the change has been a healthy one for the 36-year-old as he is loving life which is reflected through his driving and the way his horses are performing.
So much so, it has seen Mat find his way back into the state’s top ten on New South Wales’Trainers Premiership.
And it is also the opinion of many who have followed his journey that he is driving in the best form of his career, picking up multiple winners on a regular basis.
“Everything is going great at the new property as we are really starting to find our feet,” said Rue.
“Like most things in life we have come across some roadblocks along the way, but as it stands, I could not be happier for where we are headed, and hopefully we just continue to build.
“I am really lucky I have a wonderful team of people and owners behind our stable that contribute to the success both on and off the track, and I am also fortunate that I continue to pick up a lot of nice drives from different trainers.”
Rue’s latest success saw him land double at Bathurst last Friday night, scoring aboard Stuckinafence for Parkes trainer Tommy Ward and Always Stormy for Bernie Hewitt. Bathurst will host an eight-race program on Wednesday night where, as a trainer Rue has five horses engaged while he will drive in seven races.
Veteran pacer Baxter Red has a wide gate eight draw in race five but is racing consistently and appears well graded.
The gelding has been placed in similar company at his past two outings, and provided he secure the right run he should figure prominently again.
