JOSHUA Gallagher might still be forging a name for himself in the gig, but on Wednesday night at the Bathurst Paceway the teenager helped end a 15-month drought.
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Bathurst trainer Arthur Clancy watched on as Gallagher - who was in Bathurst as part of the Harness Racing New South Wales Rising Stars Series - guided his mare Jiggy Rhythm to her first win since May 12 last year.
He did it in style as well with the $14 chance, finishing 23.5m clear of the rest of the field and helping five-year-old Jiggy Rhythm clock a career best 1:57.7 winning mile rate.
"He [Clancy] didn't really give me any instructions, he just said what the horse can and can't do and I took that on board," Gallagher said.
"I just tried to keep him on his own, I tried to run my own race and not worry about everyone else's."
The 18-year-old boasted 82 career wins - including taking out the Blayney Cup - heading in to this year's edition of the Rising Stars Series as one of two Metropolitan region representatives.
Gallagher was without luck in the 2019 series opener at Menangle on Tuesday night as his runner Italian Delight was scratched.
But when he got into the gig for the first of two 1,730 metre heats staged at Bathurst, his luck was much better.
Favourite All Good ($2.20, Jake Hughes) missed the start, while Jiggy Rhythm was able to settle one out and one back after going from barrier two.
With 600m to go then leader Ill Be A Lady galloped and Reynolds responded by urging Jiggy Rhythm forward. She quickly gapped her rivals and went on to snare a drought-breaking win.
"I had a bit of luck in running, I ended up in a good spot," Gallagher said.
"These are very hard races, you've got to sort of hope for the luck and drive them accordingly.
"It's good to meet new people and drive different horses at the same time, it's a good opportunity. It's a pretty big thrill to be a part of it."
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The second of the Rising Stars heats staged at the Bathurst Paceway saw Oberon's Justin Reynolds salute.
Reynolds took part in the series for the first time last year and while he managed to notch up a third placing in the finale at Menangle, was aiming to pick up a win this time around.
It was the Amanda Turnbull trained Convair Hustler ($8.50) who helped him do just that.
Going from barrier four, Reynolds found a spot one out and one back with the Mach Three x Opera Doon gelding.
Into the final bend Reynolds peeled three-wide and on balancing, Convair Hustler had around a length and a half to make up on leader Abitmorebliss.
Convair Hustler kept coming for Reynolds and nosed in front in the final metres to get the nod by 1.7m over Rock Bottom ($8.50, Jake Hughes).
The 1:56.1 mile rate was one of the quickest of the 10-race meeting as Reynolds made it 21 career wins and Convair Hustler saluted for the second time in eight starts this season.
The series concludes at Menangle Park on Sunday.