A special day in so many ways

Every win is unforgettable for junior harness racing drivers – but for young reinswoman Rory Coverdale a host of feelgood factors contributed to a memorable victory at Stawell last Friday (Apr 7).

The Matthew Craven-trained Ona Merry Dance (A Rock N Roll Dance), who scored nicely, is part-owned by Rory, along with her parents and both sets of grandparents. And just for good measure, Rory was wearing her own recently approved driving colors for the first time.

“There was a fair bit of excitement when I got the win, that’s for sure. It was great to have mum at the track along with dads’ parents, and I know the others were at home cheering,” Rory said.

“We bought the mare last October from up at Albury and she’s been very consistent. She’s never far away and had run a few placings for us,” she said.

“Before I got involved in the sport, my parents loved going to the trots and watching the races. And now they come whenever they can—particularly if I’m driving. I enjoy driving, but don’t get all that many each season.”

Rory, who has now driven four winners, said when she decided she would like to have her own driver colors, one of her grandparents offered to do the design.

“So, Pop-lick, as I call him, set to work. We had originally wanted to use purple and red, but that clashed so we switched to purple and turquoise with my three initials. I just love them and to get a win wearing them for the first time was awesome.”

Coverdale works at the Craven stable at Ecklin South, and lives just a little more than a stone’s throw away at Glenfyne.

“I’ve been at Matthew’s place for five years now and still loving it. Down the track I’d like to train one or two of my own, but that would be all,” she said.

“We’ve put Ona Merry Dance out for a two-week break which she will enjoy.”

Ona Merry Dance was contesting the Stawell Toyota Pleasant Creek Plate – an innovative concept based along the same lines as the Great Southern Star, with heats and a final run on the same day.

The first five placegetters from each heat progressed through to the final around three hours later, and Coverdale gave Ona Merry Dance a sweet trip in first heat, in the one-out, one-back slot to score comfortably.  But the smooth passage didn’t continue in the $10,000 final, with Ona Merry Dance finishing 8th, pacing roughly after interference and with stewards noting they were held up late.

The final was won by the runner up in Ona Merry Dance’s heat, Surfsup Tigerpie (Somebeachsomewhere), trained by Ian Stanley and driven by his son Michael.

Leading Victorian reinsman James “Herbie” Herbertson had a day out at Stawell, with a winning treble. Amazingly his first Montana Pride (Bettors Delight) prepared by dad Ash, went around as a 70/1 pop—despite being placed at four of his previous six starts.

David Drury-trained Mikispur (Always B Miki) was the second leg for Herbertson at 14/1 with Top Gun Ted (Safari) for in-form trainer Gary Murnane, at 7/1, wrapping up the treble.

One of our best-known sports commentators in Bruce McAvaney, who had a stint calling SA harness racing meetings, was renowned for his catchcry “special” in remarkable sporting moments.

Regardless of whether “Macca” was calling at the Olympics, AFL matches, tennis Grand Slams or Melbourne Cups, he could be relied upon to acknowledge particular acts of brilliance with: “That was Special.”

And it would be fair to say that McAvaney would have no hesitation in adding the sequence of events to Rory Coverdale’s win as s-p-e-c-i-a-l!

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink