BENDIGO trotter Parisian Artiste further enhanced his credentials as a major contender for the Vicbred Super Series with a polished win on his home track at Lord's Raceway on Friday night.
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A convincing third placegetter in last month's Group 1 Breeders Crown Final behind Aldebaran Zeus, the Alex Ashwood-trained three-year-old has followed up with consecutive wins at Geelong and Bendigo and will head into the up-coming Vicbred heats high on confidence.
The gelding's polished win in Friday night's Wagon Apollo 3YO Trotting Mile was his sixth this season from 16 starts and has Ashwood and his partner Tayla French looking to the future with increasing excitement.
"Fingers crossed his future stays how he is going at the moment and continues to shine bright," said French, who has driven the son of Love You and Schleck in his last nine starts for five wins.
"He has just come on leaps and bounds, his last few races he's had to do it tough.
"He had to do it tough at Geelong the other night, but realistically I don't actually think he knows he does it tough, that's his style of racing and he's really happy to be up there doing it.
"We actually haven't really been able to drive him with a sit yet. The only time he had a sit was that day at Maryborough in the derby final.
"But the way he's going at the moment, we'd just be silly to go back in the field when he can be so close to the top."
Currently based on track at Junortoun at the former Harness Racing Training Centre, Ashwood and French are reaping the rewards of their hard work.
Ashwood has swiftly moved to 50 training wins in a little over six months, while a win aboard Parisian Artiste was French's 63rd of the season.
The 24-year-old driver credited the facilities, in particular the Lord's Raceway track, as pivotal to their success.
"It's a real huge advantage to us, especially having a home track advantage tonight for this little guy," French said.
"We're really lucky to be here at Bendigo. How many times can you go to a track and it's maintained for you every day? It's so well looked after and you don't have to worry about it.
"We've got the options to work on two tracks and this little guy does - he fast works on both tracks."
He has just come on leaps and bounds, his last few races he's had to do it tough.
- Tayla French
The win formed part of a big seven days for French, who notched a double at Gunbower on cup day (December 5) and wins during the week at Yarra Valley, Maryborough and Echuca.
She is confident Parisian Artiste can again up the ante in the Vicbred series and is expecting the draw to be a key to their hopes.
"We've had our fair share of bad luck with draws, hopefully we can draw decent going into the Vicbred and he can put on another good show," she said.
"(Bad draws) don't seem to faze him at the moment, but I would like to be a bit fairer to the horse and not have to do so much at the start.
"It probably doesn't look like it but he does and it doesn't affect him, but I would like to drive him a bit more conservatively."
Parisian Artiste's victory was the Ashwood stable's third win for the week, coming hot on the heels of success with Fashion Passion at Mildura the previous night.
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