By Michael Howard (HRV)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0win which he shared with trainer David Miles and a big rapt group of owners and breeders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long journey, but it\u2019s well worth it now,\u201d Barker told TrotsVision.<\/p>\n
It was Barker\u2019s 501st\u00a0start and delivered his 47th\u00a0win, five of which have been registered driving Rockinwithattitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been driving her since she\u2019s come from the breakers, they always said she was really nice,\u201d Barker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t 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\u2019ve been able to keep it and should be able to keep it after today.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought there\u2019d be a little bit more pressure, but she\u2019s proven she can hold the front by herself,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Barker was clearly chuffed with the win in the Group 2 $30,000 feature, which builds on a flourishing career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very lucky to start with David Miles,\u201d he said. \u201cMum (Sharon) works in the raceday office here, so she\u2019s obviously talking to all the trainers and drivers and owners. I was in between school and a plumbing apprenticeship \u2026 but I always wanted to be outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0win which he shared with […]<\/p>\n