BATHURST-based driver Mat Rue has tasted success at the highest level in harness racing. 

The talented reinsman won the 2013 Miracle Mile driving Baby Bling for trainer Belinda McCarthy, but a victory in today’s Group 3 Canola Cup on his father Ken’s horse Lucy Lamb would be almost as memorable.

Lucy Lamb won her heat in the Eugowra series by a big margin despite Rue sitting calmly in the sulky. The talented mare remains undefeated after four starts.

The trainer couldn’t be happier with her career to date and without getting ahead of himself, said he is confident she has the goods to claim the $30,000 final. 

It would mean even more given that his son will be in the gig.

“I wasn’t really that surprised that she did as well as she did in the heat. She has always had a bit about her from day one and now with four in a row, it is pretty clear that she has some talent,” Ken Rue said.

“My gut feeling is that if she can get a nice run, she is good enough to win. That’s not to sound cocky or anything, but I do think she is fast enough to beat them with a good run.

“The main thing about it is having Mat in the gig, it would be something special if we could win the race together as father and son,” he added.

Mat Rue was also keen to give the mare praise following on from the heat victory.

“She did that all by herself in the heat, there was a driver behind me who was making a bit of noise and she just took off, I didn’t ask her to quicken at all,” Rue said.

“Dad has always had a really nice opinion of her and I remember her first educational trial she competed in, I thought she had a bit of a future.”

Lucy Lamb found her way to the stables of Ken Rue after a conversation between Ken and Golden Gait’s Wayne Lamb.

“Dad was working one horse and he always says if you are going to work one, you might as well work two, so he spoke to Wayne Lamb about leasing one and he said to head out to Golden Gait because he had a few there that he could have a look at,” Mat said.

“When Dad drove in Lucy Lamb was at a tie up rail and he was hoping Wayne would offer him her and when Wayne said to Dad you can lease her, Dad said yes straight away.”

Mat is no stranger to Canola Cup success, having driven Bobbee Dee Dee to victory in 2011. It is an effort he wants to replicate.

“I’d love to win on Lucy Lamb for Dad, there is going to be a pretty big cheer squad for her at Eugowra on Monday and I know my brother has already organised to have the Tuesday off work, so I think he might be planning on a big celebration if she wins,” he said.

“Dad only lives 25 minutes away from Eugowra and it is his closest track, so he does travel into the track and works her there a bit, I think it would be classed a local win if she can get the job done.”

Lucy Lamb has drawn barrier seven and will follow out the Steve Turnbull trained Oh I Am The One.

“It probably isn’t as bad as it looks because I think Steve’s horse looks as though it will lead and that should mean I’m in behind the leader, which will mean we get a pretty good trip into the race,” Mat said.

“We might just need some luck swinging for home."