Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Madeliene Young and veteran pacer Mister Ardee have formed an outstanding combination in recent years, and Young celebrated her 200TH driving success when she guided the 11-year-old gelding to an easy victory over Dardy Boy in a 2536m event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.
The Zealand-bred Mister Ardee now has raced 236 times for 32 wins, 39 seconds and 27 thirds for earnings of $361,939. He was having his 99TH start for Young as his trainer, for six wins and 21 placings.
The 28-year-old Young has now driven the gelding in 155 races for 18 wins, 20 seconds, 15 thirds and 18 fourths. Her first winning drive was behind Bettor Twisted, who ran home strongly to beat Snappy Rufus by a half-head in a 2150m event in Kalgoorlie on November 8, 2015, a race in which Mister Ardee finish fifth.
Young’s first drive behind Mister Ardee was at Northam on July 12, 2016, when the four-year-old was a $22.20 outsider who was tenth at the bell before charging home, out six wide, to beat Cerato by a half-length.
Mister Ardee raced nine times as a two-year-old in New Zealand for two wins and six placings, and he was successful that season at his first Australian appearance when he was driven by Young’s father Kim and was a $1.10 favourite for owner-trainer Gary Elson and beat Affluent Bell by five lengths at Gloucester Park on June 10, 2014, before finishing second to Beaudiene Boaz in the Group 1 Golden Slipper the following month.
“Mister Ardee just loves racing; that’s what he lives for,” said Madeliene Young. “You give him a break, and he is waiting at the gate after two weeks to comer back in. So, now the routine is to give him a few little freshen-ups here and there, to keep him ticking over. He is sound and will keep racing until he tells us it is time to finish up.”
Young is hoping that Mister Ardee’s win on Tuesday night will be a precursor for a good night at Gloucester Park on Friday when she will drive Insta Gator in the opening event and Pivotal in the $30,000 Race For Roses.