“It was definitely the most anxious I’ve been around that last corner, I can’t think of another horse that could’ve won from that position,” Angus Garrard said.
“With no momentum, yet to get up and go like that on a sticky track too, is just freakish - I thought it was all but impossible.”
Speaking post-race, Angus’ father Daren said his son was very laid back and not much fazed him.
“He’s always been as cool as a cucumber, and not one to panic,” Daren Garrard said.
“I think Angus, being a very calm and cool character, helped him in that race.
“He never panicked and let the horse wind up naturally, when he still had plenty to do.
“Gayle and I were very proud of him last night, but he didn’t say much.
“He quite a humble kid, he seemed to take it in his stride.
“He’s driven 97 winners since his first drive in June last year, and he has exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“Even though he is very disciplined and talented, he never stops surprising us.”
Sunday started like any other day for Angus, studying and fulfilling his Year 12 requirements before heading off to the Redcliffe trots on Sunday night, where he has five races.
“He’s an A-grade student, and his school and principal have been very understanding,” Daren Garrard said.
“Angus’s future is in his own hands, if he wants to carry on with this career he can and if we wants to further his studies he can.
“Gayle and I never pressure him into anything, all we know is that he’s very disciplined; he’s up every morning at 5am working horses before he goes off to school.
“Then after school he either works the horses again, or his mother picks him up and takes him to the trots.
“He’s on top of his school work which pleases us, he’s also the scrum-half for the First XV and is an all-rounder for the First XI cricket team.
“He’s an only child and we are so very proud of him.”
His son completed the hat trick when he saluted with the Donny Smith-trained Sir Fahrenheit, who won the feature trot – the $20,630 Ultimate Tools June Trotters Cup.
Garrard again sat in the trail with the $3.60 favourite, having too much sprint in the lane, winning under an urge.
The Pegasus Spur gelding trotted the 2647m stand in 3 :24.4 (mile rate 2;04.3) with 31.3, 30.8, 29.3, and 29 second sectionals.
It was the 6YO bay’s 11th win from 51 starts and fifth from 11 this season, with stake earnings sitting at just under $80,000.
Sir Fahrenheit is owned by Tumby Park and was bred by S.L.A. and P. Irvine.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling, I never would have dreamt that I would get a treble at my first metro meeting - I just can’t thank all of the owners and trainers enough,” Angus Garrard said.
“I’m so grateful they put their trust in me to drive their horses, and good horses make my job a whole lot easier.”
Thirty minutes before Sir Fahrenheit’s victory, Colt Thirty One nailed the feature pacing event – the $14,030 Garrards Horse And Hound Open Pace.
The two-time Queensland Horse-of-the-Year, and his trainer Grant Dixon, came from gate three on the second row (10), and parked at the bell, to register win 37 from start 64.
The brilliant 5YO son of Mach Three had to work late along the passing lane to overhaul a fresh-up Northview Hustler by 1.4 metres.
'The Colt' paced the 2,138m mobile in 2:31.8 (mile rate 1:54.2), with sectionals of 30.6, 29.5, 27.5, and 27.1.
Colt Thirty One is owned and was bred by Kevin and Kay Seymour of Solid Earth Pty Ltd.
The bay entire has won five races this season and his career stake earnings now sit around $850,000.
Earlier in the evening, the Dixon-trained and Trista Dixon-driven Tennyson Bromac sat parked for the last 1,400m of the 2,138m mobile to win race one.
Dixon also claimed his own hat trick last night when he trained and drove Tact Bess to win the fourth event.