Chanelle Lawson
The purple and pink colours of Cambridge harness racing identity Bryce Espin made a return to the winner’s circle at Cambridge Raceway on Tuesday, courtesy of his seven-year-old mare Lukyanova.
While Espin no longer trains, he remains a staunch follower of the sport and he enjoys watching Lukyanova compete at his home track.
The daughter of Pegasus Spur had been out of form prior to Tuesday and trainer Kyle Marshall was delighted to get the win for Espin, who leases her with breeder Luk Chin.
“I am really pleased for her owner Bryce Espin, she’s keeping his colours in the winner’s circle,” he said.
Marshall was pleased that Espin, who now resides in a retirement home, was able to make it on track for the win.
“He managed to make it on course for the photo and have a couple of whiskies,” Marshall quipped.
“He’s in a rest home watching the races now and he loves coming down and watching her go around.”
Lukyanova has been working under saddle in preparation for monte races and Marshall believes that has been integral to her form reversal.
“Her work has been good and back to 2200m on Tuesday helped,” he said. “Luke Whittaker has been riding her because we are getting ready for a monte trot and I think that has really turned her around.
“They are meant to have one at Auckland next week, she absolutely loves it.”
Meanwhile, Marshall will line-up just the one runner at Cambridge Raceway’s Friday meeting, with Pembrook Charlie set to compete in the 2200m junior drivers race.
The son of Sportswriter will head into the race off a last-start win at Alexandra Park and Marshall said the junior driver event on Friday will be ideal for the gelding.
“I was going to turn him out after his win, but then I saw the junior driver race, so I am going to put him in that because he’s come through the run better than I expected,” he said.
“After Friday he will definitely go out for two weeks. He seems to be in the right sort of field again and I think he is a good chance.” – Cambridge Raceway
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