Maritimer Victorious Abroad

Just one year into his burgeoning driving career, Prince Edward Island’s Dylan Andrew landed himself the opportunity to brush up on his skills during a trip to Australia

this year.

On Friday, May 21, 20-year-old Andrew scored his first Australian win at Yarra Valley in Victoria aboard Captain Bromac N in a 2,150 metre race for a purse of $5,000 AUS.

“He didn't have to work hard to get the lead and then from there he got easy fractions and sprinted home,” said Andrew of the winning trip. “I also won with him again last Wednesday night and sat outside the whole way and just got him there in the last strides to win by a nose.”

Captain Bromac N is trained by Lance Justice and is currently owned by Bob McCardle, who operates a large breeding facility in New Zealand.

Andrew told Trot Insider that he arrived in Australia on January 13 and traveled the country for about six weeks before meeting Justice in Sydney while he was racing his stable star Smoken Up N in the Inter Dominion.

"I got a hold of Lance through Kerry Brown, one of his old employees that works in Canada now. I met Kerry though a fellow horsemen and friend, Al McNeil. Then I asked Lance if he was looking for any help, sure enough he gave me the chance to work with him and his horses down here.”

After working at the Lance Justice stable for a few weeks, the young horseman was offered a chance to try driving. Andrew, a fourth generation horseman, began his driving career last year in Canada. He recorded four wins and was named Rookie of the Year at the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association awards banquet.

“I jumped at the opportunity and have since driven about a dozen times for him," said Andrew. "So far it's been a huge change from home, the style of harness racing is a lot tighter and it's quite different. Horses lay two and three-wide the whole trip and still somehow find a way to win. It’s a lot of fun, but I must say that it was a little nerve-racking at first just because the racing was so tight. There was no room for much movement and if you gave any other drivers room they will jump all over it. The racing compared to home is much different as I said, it’s more single file racing back home as here it’s all kinds of movement and flow.

"Along with the driving style the training is much different here,” he continued. “They work their horses a lot harder and do a lot of work on sand tracks. They also seem to have their horses a little more fit than back home. I believe this is just because of the long distance racing.”

Andrew says his trip abroad will come to an end on August 1 as he plans to return home just in time for Old Home Week.

"Overall I have really enjoyed my time down here. I'm going to keep working for Lance for the next bit and then hope to do a little more sight-seeing before home,” he said, adding that he is grateful to both Justice and McCardle for the opportunities they’ve given him to learn with and drive their horses.