Ross gets that first Group 1 success

2 May 2022

GROWING up as budding harness racing enthusiast in south-east Queensland, Cameron Ross dreamed of one day training and preparing Group 1 one winners.

Tutored by some of the best horsemen in the game, including Grant Dixon and Noel Daley, Ross served his time working for many stables along the eastern seaboard of Australia before finding a home at Menangle Park where, three years ago, he went out on his own and began training a team of pacers.

On Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Menangle, Ross fulfilled that dream of winning a Group 1 feature when he prepared Steno, who took out the three-year-old fillies’ APG Gold Bullion final.

Owned by the Kelly family from Wagga and given a 10 out of 10 drive by Jack Callaghan, Steno treated her rivals with utter contempt, running away to score by more than four metres in a mile rate of 1:53.4.

“Coming into the race we had a few thoughts on how the race would be run,” Said Ross.

“So, I instructed Jack to go forward from the arm and go with race favourite Madrid.

“They went a 26.4s first quarter so Jack elected to take the sit on Madrid, which proved the difference with the result.

“I could not have been happier with Jack’s drive, he was cool, calm and collected.

“He is a real star on the rise in the driving ranks.

“The support I have received from owners Dianne and Bernie Kelly made all of this possible.

“Apart from Steno, I am training several of their young horses and it was great to be able to repay them for the faith they have shown in me.”

Steno is now having a well-earned rest in the paddock for a week or so, and Cameron plans to head to Queensland to contest the winter carnival with the filly.

“I feel she deserves a crack at those races like the feature Oaks up there, and it will be nice to return home with some of my nice horses,” said Ross.

Tonight, racing returns to the nation’s capital of Canberra, when an eight-race card kicks off at 6:04pm with the Glen Mia ACT Saddlery Pace.

The Leon Jurd-trained, and Will Rixon driven gelding Happy As is quoted at short odds to take out the event.