THE move to region-based racing has paved the way for a developing but friendly and respectful rivarly at the top of the driver standings.
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With the fourth meeting at Lord's Raceway under the new model done and dusted, Alex Ashwood and Ellen Tormey lead the way with eight winners apiece.
Ashwood had established a two-win gap, underpinned by his quartet of victories on Tuesday night aboard Well Defined, Busters Grin, Belltopperboy and Above Average.
But a flurry of five winners in two nights, lifted Tormey to level-pegging with the 25-year-old, as an interesting sidelight to the continuation of harness racing in central Victoria under new rules.
Tormey followed a treble on Tuesday with a neat double on a pair of Glenn Douglas-trained horses - Torrid Saint and Elegant Jewel - on Wednesday night.
Speaking on Wednesday, both drivers were generous in their praise of each other.
"We are good friends off the track and more than competitive on the track," Ashwood said.
"As long as she's behind me I'm happy. That said she is doing a great job at the moment."
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the pair regularly travelled together to Mildura, where they have often dominated the card between them.
Tormey indicated there was no real rivalry as such, with both happy to see the other flourish given the restriction on driver and trainer movements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I'm happy for Alex whenever he gets a win, he does a great job," she said.
"I'm not too fussed, it's just across the road (Lord's Raceway) and if my horses are going well, I'm happy.
"He's probably got a bigger stable backing him and if people are going to make a race out of it, he's going to win easy.
"I'm just happy to get a few winners during this time."
Tormey added she had grown to appreciate the downtime afforded harness racing participants during the break from regular racing.
"To be honest, I'm not minding it with a little less travel," she said.
"I was a little bit bored for the first week because I was used to being at work, or being at the sales and then running off to the races somewhere.
"I'm quite enjoying the quiet time and the racing has still been very competitive."
Strathfieldsaye trainer-driver Glenn Douglas, who leads the trainer standings with six wins and is equal third on the drivers' list with three wins, said region-only racing had cultivated a more relaxed and - if possible - friendlier environment on race day.
"We're all great mates and it's really enjoyable for all at the moment," he said.
"There's not many late nights and not many long trips to the races.
"It's making life very enjoyable."
Win tallies after two region-based race meetings:
Drivers: Alex Ashwood (8), Ellen Tormey (8), Glenn Douglas (3), Rod Lakey (3), Haydon Gray (2), Anthony Crossland, Brett Shipway, Jayden Brewin, Haydon Gray, Tayla French, Mark Hayes, Shane Hall, Brian Gath (1).
Trainers: Glenn Douglas (6), Justin Brewin (3), Gary Donaldson (2), Keith Cotchin (2), Kate Hargreaves (2), Ellen Tormey (2), Shaun McNaulty (2), Brett Shipway, Michelle Eastman, Anthony Crossland, Carla Innes-Goodridge, Dylan Marshall, Trevor Patching, Grant Innes, Kent Harpley, Tony Berg, Lynne Mercieca, Shane Hall, John McDermott, Ross Graham (1).
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