Drayton surprised his connections with an unexpected win.

“We didn't think he would win the race,” Hargreaves said.

“He won his last start, but once he went three wide we weren't sure whether he could finish. He struggled on the last turn but he straightened up nicely and hit the line hard.”

Hargreaves said it was a great drive by Alex Ashwood who rides the majority of her horses.

“Both Alex and myself have shares in the horse,” Hargreaves said.

“It definitely makes it that little bit more special. It makes getting out of bed a little easier and the hard work a little sweeter.”

Drayton made it two wins from his last two starts and four wins from his last six starts.

While he has been racing well around the country circuit he will take the next step in his next start.

“We are thinking about nomination for a MO race in his next step,” Hargreaves said.

“Not every horse is good enough to make it in town but we think with a bit of luck Drayton will do okay.”

Hargreaves was always destined to love horses with a strong family connection.

Her father Jeff has been a long serving member of the Stawell Harness Racing Club.

With just four horses in work it is only a small team at the Hargreaves stables, but she is driven by her fathers involvement.

“Dad is the whole reason i love working with horses,” Hargreaves said.

“I have one of his horses in work and it would be nice to get a winner for him.”

Hargreaves took over the trainers licence from her father and is enjoying every minute of it.

“It is always pretty flat out working with horses,” she said.

“We currently have two two-year-olds that are trialing in a couple of weeks. At the minute they are doing everything right.”

Along with the two up and coming horses is the seven-year-old mare owned by Jeff.

“She is giving us a bit more trouble just with injuries,” Hargreaves said.

“We hope she can get back to the races, but it is a day to day thing at the minute.”

Hargreaves was a rising star in the driving ranks several years ago, but while she continues to maintain a full time teaching position at Arnold’s Creek Primary School she cant find the time to drive and train.

“I have really good balance between the two jobs,” she said.

“I would like to drive the two-year-olds, but I have full faith in Alex. He is a professional and rides all of my horses.”

The rest of the Hargreaves family remain in Stawell.