Domande Gives Ryan Eyre his First Training Win
Domande taking out race two at Bridgetown. Photo Credit: Carol Lewsley at Craicpot Photography.
Ryan Eyre got his elusive first win as a trainer on Sunday at Bridgetown, with the trainer/driver leading all the way in race two with his horse Domande.
“It felt unreal getting my first win on Dom. It was quite a rush to be honest with you,”
“Over two years it has taken to get back in the winner’s circle, so I have had to be very patient and persistent. It feels like longer to be honest.”
There was plenty of thrills and spills in the lead up to the race, with Masked Diablo causing a false start at the first attempt, and then with Ziggey falling soon after release point in attempt number two, with both driver and horse walking away relatively unscathed, it was all up to attempt three to get underway without a hitch.
Starting from barrier five, with the two scratchings in the race; albeit one of them being a late scratching with Ziggey withdrawn after her fall, Eyre and Domande moved in two positions, starting from barrier three they were able to cross the other two runners and dictate terms over the 2190m, managing to sail away for a comfortable win by 14.4m in a mile rate of 2:02:7.
“I was quietly confident going into this race, I knew if he led he would be hard to beat.”
Ryan Eyres first training win on Sunday. Video: harness.org.au
The five-year-old broke through for his second career win in 25 starts, with Eyre getting the gelding in late 2021 after seeing him advertised online.
“I just got on the phone and said, ‘when can I pick him up?”
“He’s been going really well up until that win but I may have cost him one win at Williams by letting the leader get away with a bit, but yeah, I was absolutely wrapped with him.”
It was an exciting finish to the race with both Ryan Eyre and Thomas Bryant searching for their first win, but it was Eyre who came out on top this time. Bryant had another drive in race five on board Fleur Du Maquis, and after hitting the front at the top of the straight, was run down close to the line to be beaten by just 1.8m by Patrikiar, claiming another second placing on the day, but it won’t be long before we see Bryant’s name on top.
With his father Scott Eyre heavily involved in harness racing throughout Ryan’s life, he was always destined to be involved in one way or another. A farrier by day, Eyre took up driving in the 2018/19 season and training in 2021 as a hobby, getting his first win in the cart during his first season, but it’s been a long time between drinks for the 31-year-old.
“I had to get my trainers licence so I could get drives,” he joked
“I’ve always had an interest in it and thought why not, give it a go and have a bit of fun.”
Ashleigh Paikos