Youngster joins select group

By Michael Howard (HRV)

Young reinsman Jayden Barker enjoyed a huge breakthrough at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night, with the smallest of wins bringing the biggest of breakthroughs.

Barker guided Rockinwithattitude to victory by a short half-head in the IRT Australia Tatlow Stakes for two-year-old trotters, his first Group level win which he shared with trainer David Miles and a big rapt group of owners and breeders.

“It’s been a long journey, but it’s well worth it now,” Barker told TrotsVision.

It was Barker’s 501st start and delivered his 47th win, five of which have been registered driving Rockinwithattitude.

“I’ve been driving her since she’s come from the breakers, they always said she was really nice,” Barker said.

“It wasn’t until we got to the trials against the older horses that we saw what she could do. David allowed me to keep driving, obviously with the owners help I’ve been able to keep it and should be able to keep it after today.”

It was a faultless performance, with Rockinwithattitude showing her customary gate speed to lead from gate two and then holding the front until favourite The Locomotive came knocking.

“I thought there’d be a little bit more pressure, but she’s proven she can hold the front by herself,” he said. “I expected something out wide to attack early, but they obviously knew what she could do. And then it was just a matter of how much pressure they put on me whether I hold it or hand up.

“Obviously going into the race The Locomotive was the only one I was thinking of handing up to and it was just then a matter of whether he could get me to the sprint lane.”

He could, but Susan Is Her Name produced a bold threat for Emma Stewart and Kate Gath, moving three wide and advancing clear in the final straight before Rockinwithattitude dug in to grab her on the line in a photo finish.

Barker was clearly chuffed with the win in the Group 2 $30,000 feature, which builds on a flourishing career.

“I was very lucky to start with David Miles,” he said. “Mum (Sharon) works in the raceday office here, so she’s obviously talking to all the trainers and drivers and owners. I was in between school and a plumbing apprenticeship … but I always wanted to be outdoors.

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, as long as I was outdoors on a farm I was happy. David took me on, I did a couple of days a week for three months, I did the Bendigo training centre to get more confidence with the harness and all that sort of stuff. Got a job out of it and fell in love with it from there.