FOLLOWERS of Bendigo reinsman Alex Ashwood would be counting their blessings - and maybe some spare change too - after a fruitful Friday at Mildura.
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The former Tasmania notched up a surprise winning treble at the City Oval Paceway at a combined 120-1.
Ashwood kicked-off a day of long-shots with a win aboard the Allan MacDonald-trained mare She Said Yes at odds of 100-1.
The four-year-old had not finished any better than fifth in six previous starts, which she managed on debut at Mildura in January, but won courtesy of a bold front-running drive.
Ashwood followed up with a double for Irymple trainer Sandra O'Connor with the five-year-old mare Badlands Ginger ($8.50) and six-year-old gelding Firehouse Rock ($11).
His Mildura haul moved Ashwood within sight of 50 wins for the 2018-19 season. He is currently on 47.
The accomplished reinsman, who settled in Bendigo in with his partner and trainer Kate Hargreaves in late 2018, said he was particularly pleased to produce a winner for MacDonald, who brought up just his fourth victory of the season.
"When I first started going to Mildura, Allan was the first person who gave me the opportunity to drive up there," Ashwood said.
"And then I got on to Sandra (O'Connor) and if I don't drive one of hers, I'll drive one of his.
"Sandra has been very good to me over the last 18 months or so.
"It was a good day all-round ... on paper it didn't look crash hot, but it turned out a lot better than expected."
Arguably the highlight of the week for Ashwood was his win aboard the Hargreaves-trained Dynamite Dozer at Shepparton last Tuesday.
The four-year-old gelding broke through for his first career win in start number seven at $13.60, to kick-start a week of big-priced winners.
The son of United States sire The Wrath of Pan showed he was not too far away from putting together a win after a pair of placings at Kilmore and Shepparton in his previous two starts,
Dynamite Dozer will chase back-to-back Shepparton wins at Monday's day meeting.
"He's drawn seven again and should be hard to beat," Ashwood said.
"(Outside) it's not really his go, I'd prefer barrier one, but we will deal with it."
Meanwhile, Ashwood indicated a return to racing is not far off for promising trotter Well Defined, who will trial at Bendigo today (Sunday).
Eight of the four-year-old's 29 career starts have been under the care of Hargreaves, who scored five straight wins with the gelding through February and March.
Well Defined has not raced since his sixth placing at Kilmore on April 18.
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