By Tim O\u2019Connor (HRV)<\/p>\n
Kyle Marshall\u2019s return to Australia has started in style, with the New Zealand native scoring a long-odds success at Victorian harness racing headquarters.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old backed up his maiden Aussie training success at Shepparton on Tuesday with a driving victory at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Marshall joined forces with fellow Cranbourne trainer Scott Ewen, piloting $31 outsider Im Jimmy James to his win in the Hylands Race Colours Pace.<\/p>\n
The nine-year-old enjoyed a soft trip at the back of the field and then tracked rival Pesci into the race when Shaun McNaulty\u2019s charge peeled three wide down the back straight. Pesci skipped clear entering the home stretch, but Im Jimmy James wore him down in the concluding stages to prevail by a little over 3m.<\/p>\n
Ewen partnered stablemate Blazin Heaven and she closed off well for fifth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to come back, to turn up at Melton and get the drive on Scott Ewen\u2019s horse,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe share the barn at Cranbourne and we get along good, so it\u2019s good to get a win for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cScotty thought they\u2019d both be good chances with the right run and I think we just ended up with the better run.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marshall arrived in Australia in April and landed his first training success on our shores on Tuesday when Wharewhiti prevailed at Shepparton.<\/p>\n
He told TrotsVision it had long been a desire to get back to Australia after spending time here as a youngster early in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was here nine years ago with Brent Lilley to do my junior claim over here and Brent was good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was something I always wanted to come back to. I went home and gave training a go, got set up there, and it just ended up being the right time to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marshall said he was looking to expand on his team of eight currently in work at the Cranbourne training centre, with top three-year-old Son Of Mac now in Australia and ready for a tilt at some of Victoria\u2019s big features.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe arrived two weeks ago and he\u2019s coming up nicely,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s probably the best one I\u2019ve got in my stable at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to targeting the Victoria Derby and Breeders Crown with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Im Jimmy James\u2019 win was the 15th of his 120-start career and second for Ewen who only started training the son of Big Jim in February this year.<\/p>\n
Ecklin South trainer-driver Matthew Craven landed the only double on Saturday night\u2019s Melton card, with Heza Son Of Agun taking out the TAB Bold David Free For All after stablemate Sweetpassion opened the meeting with victory in the BetaVet Pace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tim O\u2019Connor (HRV) Kyle Marshall\u2019s return to Australia has started in style, with the New Zealand native scoring a long-odds success at Victorian harness racing headquarters. The 29-year-old backed up his maiden Aussie training success at Shepparton on Tuesday with a driving victory at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night. Marshall joined forces with […]<\/p>\n