A little over a month after securing their first Group 1 triumph with Parisian Artiste, Ashwood and French claimed the $30,000 Group 2 Vicbred Platinum Trotting Mares Sprint Championship (1720m) with the ever-improving La Serena.

The five-year-old daughter of Quaker Jet and the mare Donegal Flat dominated her nine rivals, with French controlling proceedings out in front after reaching the lead on entering the straight the first time.

From there, La Serena was never really threatened, cruising to a commanding 10.3m win, with Lucinda Mac running a nice race to finish second for Maiden Gully trainer Maree Campbell.

An all-Bendigo quinella added to a successful night for the Bendigo training ranks, with Anthony Crossland and his class five-year-old trotter Rules Dont Apply winning his $50,000 heat of the Great Southern Star before finishing ninth in the $300,000 Group 1 final later in the night, won by Majestuoso for Andy and Kate Gath.

Ashwood said he and French were absolutely thrilled to have captured another Group race win.

"If you could win one a week you'd be a very happy person, but you best just make the most of them while you can," he said, before paying a big thanks to their stable staff.

Under his care for her last 13 starts for six wins, Ashwood could not be more delighted with La Serena's progression.

"She is getting better and better every time she goes around, but I think she goes a lot better over the short (course)," he said.

"She did a bit of work early in the race, but she went a pretty good mile rate - she went 1:56 and pulled away from them.

"She looked like she still had a fair bit left in the tank.

"There's nothing we've really changed. I thought her run in the Vicbred (seventh behind Queen Of Crime) was quite good and she ran the quickest last mile in the final.

"She has always had the ability, it's just been a matter of putting it all together and being more consistent with her performances."

Ashwood said the mare had certainly matured and as a consequence become an easier horse to handle than previously.

"She was a bit rippy, a bit pully and always wanted to do a few things wrong," he said

"But with age, she's just settled.

"The Yabby Dam breed always gets better with age, so I think it's just the season and the good hard racing against better quality horses that have made her a better horse."

A possible tilt at the Lyn McPherson Breed For Speed Series could be next for La Serena, with the first heat programmed for this Thursday at Bendigo's Lord's Raceway and the second at Shepparton on February 16.

La Serena won for the eighth time in 28 starts, capping a run of three straight race victories, starting at Kilmore on January 6.

She followed up with success at Geelong in January, ensuring she was at short odds of $1.80 for Friday night's feature.

La Serena's victory continued a big eight or so months for the Lord's Raceway-based team.

A first Group 1 training success under his own name for Ashwood and a maiden Group 1 driving success for French rounded out a whirlwind 2021 season on New Year's Eve, when Parisian Artiste won his Vicbred Super Series final at Melton.

The stable has since notched up 11 winners and 12 placings from 40 starters in the first month and a bit of the 2022 season.

The Ashwood stable will be next represented at Mildura on Wednesday night with four good to excellent chances, with Sumbeach Art and Loyola Golf making their debut for the stable.

They will be joined at the races by Simon and Miss Social Media, who won up north earlier this week and will be looking to extend her good recent record of three wins from her last four starts.

Read more: Ashwood, French combine for maiden Group One triumph

Read more: Tayla French quick out of the gates for Team Teal

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