Pascoe “Joonior” off to a flying start

Talented South Australian concession reinswoman Samantha Pascoe has been around harness racing long enough to know about the highs and the lows that go with the territory.

But with two wins and a third from just three starters as a trainer, Pascoe freely admits she’s just taking the dream ride as long as it lasts!

Pascoe finished third at her training debut in February with three-year-old filly Authentic, then last week took Joonior Brown (Mach Three – Aqui A Mi Lado (Rocknroll Hanover) to Globe Derby scoring her first training win. Pascoe then followed up the effort with another win with “Joonior” at Globe Derby on Saturday.

“I’m absolutely loving it. Of course, I know there’s always as many downs as ups in racing, but at the moment I’m just having fun,” Pascoe said.

The young horsewoman and her mother Mandy are in charge of the family racing team on a day-to day basis, as Scott Pascoe works away in the Northern Territory.

“Mum does the day-to-day work and I’m there doing the fastwork and helping out,” Sam said.

“But it got to the point where I was getting more ideas of my own about what I wanted to do and how I wanted to train them and dad and I were butting heads a bit – so I decided I’d get my own licence and prepare a couple of my own,” she said.

Pascoe’s career as a driver went from strength-to-strength last season in her fourth year of driving. She achieved 50 winners for the season, her 100th career win; and also recorded personal milestones like four winners at one meeting; and her first Saturday night treble at Globe Derby.

Life’s already pretty busy, with Pascoe working mornings at South Australia’s biggest racing outfit, Aaron Bain Racing, then it’s off to her parents’ place to work their team, as well as her own. In addition, there’s travel to South Australian race meetings, and at least once a week, interstate to Victoria to drive at Mildura, four hours away. Two night’s a week there’s also Pascoe’s part time job in a bar.

“Yes it’s busy, there aren’t any hours in the day or week for myself, but I’m absolutely loving it. At this stage I’m not sure how many more I will look to take on as a trainer,” she said.

“I initially always thought I wouldn’t want more than probably three or four, but I’ve had the two horses, and another one got dropped off this week, so we’ll see!

“I enjoy being able to pay attention to my horses – there are some that just aren’t suited to a big stable and I like to be able to work on the things that will get the horse happy.

“Even with just a couple of horses I’ve already experienced the downs. After that first start third with Authentic, we got her home and I almost lost her. She got an infection and it’s taken a long time to get over it. She’s just getting back to fast working now.

“The way it’s going at the moment you’d have to say the more horses you have the more fun you have! But I’m fully aware it can work the other way too!”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink