Close shave leads to Lyons' maiden drives

By Jordan Gerrans

Ella Lyons has progressed from cutting the hair of harness racing legend Vic Frost to learning the tricks of the trade from the master reinsman in the sulky. 

The 20-year-old knew little about the sport of harness racing when she was working as a hairdresser around four years. 

She grew up around horses and riding at pony club on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales before heading into the world of hair styling for a day job. 

That is where she eventually crossed path with harness racing champion Frost who suggested that his stable was always keen to take on new workers who have a passion for horses. 

Just a few years on from that moment, Lyons will have her maiden drives as a reinswoman this week in the Sunshine State. 

It has been an incredible rise from the passionate horsewoman who still can’t believe how far she has come in the caper in such a short period of time. 

“I would have never thought I would be driving in races, but it is really good – I love it,” Lyons said.

“I am happy I fell into it.”

Lyons has been taken under the wing of Inter Dominion icon Frost and his training partner Gail Geeson at Pottsville in Northern New South Wales.

The debutant driver even calls Frost ‘Grandpa’, such is their bond.

Lyons spent a few years working with the gallopers as well at Murwillumbah, but she has concentrated her energy on the standardbreds more so in recent times.

She heads to Redcliffe on Wednesday evening for her first official drive in the sport before heading back to the same track on Thursday for her maiden race day booking for her long-time bosses Frost and Geeson. 

The 54-year-old Geeson says Lyons idolizes the revered Frost. 

“She is amazing,” the trainer said of Lyons.

“She is a very, very hard worker. She is very willing to learn anything and she really listens. She does exactly what you say and nothing is too hard for her.

“She is a brilliant worker and so keen to learn to get into the sport and industry. She is a real asset to our stable.”

Like Lyons, legendary AFL goal kicker Tony Lockett has been prominent around the stables of Frost and Geeson in recent years as he has helped working their horses.

Geeson says Lockett is proud as punch to see the youngster debut in the sport after following her journey closely.

As Lyons grew up on horseback and had horses of her own to ride, trainer Geeson believes the transition to sitting in the harness bike was smooth. 

“It did not take long for her, as soon as we got her in the gig – she was going pretty much straight away,” she said.

“She has the hands for it. She sits good and horses go for her, as well. It is really good. 

"She was capable from the start.”

As well as her pursuits in harness racing, Lyons is still working as a hairdresser and was doing so on Monday ahead of her debut drives. 

She also spent time working for gallops conditioners David McColm and Peter Sinclair at Murwillumbah.

Going down the path of becoming a jockey was not something Lyons considered as she is full steam ahead in harness racing these days. 

“I have really liked it, doing both, and it was cool seeing two different types of racing,” she said.

“I saw the different training involved and the horses are completely different breeds, so they act a lot differently.

"I do love the harness racing.”

She will take her first drive in a race for Tweed Heads West trainer John Boserio at Redcliffe on Wednesday when she gets in the bike behind Barrett. 

The 76-year-old Boserio is a close friend of Frost and Geeson’s which helped Lyons pick up the assignment. 

She will be back at the races on Thursday to partner with Zac Daniels, who is a horse she has had a long association with. 

Lyons completed all of Zac Daniels’ education work as a young horse and was the first horse she sat behind in a trial as she built towards having her licence approved. 

“It is really exciting,” she said.

“I love to see how far they come. He is a nice little horse. 

"He has been going good.”