Father and daughter combination Clark and Ellie Barron rolled out an impressive filly at Winton yesterday in winning debutante Feelthejoy.
The Always B Miki filly burst out of the trail to score impressively in race 3, showing she has a bright future and plenty to learn about racing in the process.
The Barron team has only just scratched the surface of the filly’s speed and stamina, as Feelthejoy cruised to the line untested.
“The bottom is definitely there. We are not sure about the top speed yet," Ellie Barron said.
"She hasn’t really been asked for that yet.
"Brent [Barclay] has done a lot of work with her. He had to give her a wake-up at the workouts because she is so dopey."
Feelthejoy joins the long list of winners Clark Barron and Eric Parr have produced from their Miracle Lodge breeding partnership.
The 3yr-old is from Southland Oaks winner Jumpforjoy, making her a half-sister to eight-race winner Somejoy and leading Perth 3yr-old Jumpingjackmac.
Clark Barron said the Southland Oaks was a possible target for Feelthejoy later this season.
But in the meantime the filly would have only one or two more starts before being sent for a freshen-up.
The trainer confirmed Feelthejoy had been the subject of interest from several potential buyers but at this stage, he and Parr were not interested in selling.
Based in Canterbury, Ellie Barron is now working at Matt Purvis’ Woodend Beach stable.
It has meant the junior driver has not been able to drive Feelthejoy in her recent trials.
But she was thrilled to have driven Feelthejoy yesterday.
"I haven’t been really lucky in terms of nice horses recently.”
“Brent [Barclay] actually had first option and he was good enough to let me drive her.
"He said I deserve a nice one, so that was nice."
Barron will be back in Canterbury for Sunday’s Motukarara meeting where she will drive Moody River for Purvis in race 4 and Vesnina for Robert and Jenna Dunn in race 6.
There were few more impressive winners on the eight-race Winton card than Laurie’s Legacy.
The Brad Williamson-trained 4yr-old faced a big step up in grade after winning her maiden and handled it in style.
After doing plenty of mid-race work the trotter dug deep in the home straight for an impressive victory in race 5.
The meeting saw the swansong of veteran pacer Dachy on her home track.
The 9yr-old ran third behind her fellow Winton-trained mare Tartan Roxy in race 6.
Trainer Ian Goodman said Dachy has a booking to stallion Always B Miki this spring.
