A fitting gesture for “eight straight”

Things just clicked between young South Australian reinswoman Samantha Pascoe and seasoned campaigner Van Mara earlier this year – and Mount Gambier trainer Steven Fennell couldn’t have been happier with the result.

Fennell claimed the well-travelled pacer in May and after a first-up second, junior concession driver Pascoe then took over, and Van” put together a string of eight straight wins with “Van” at Globe Derby Park.

“I got a bit lucky when I picked up the drive because Steve had three horses in at Globe Derby. Two of them needed junior claims and the third one was Van Mara, who didn’t need the claim,” Pascoe said.

“But Steve was good enough to put me on the three of them, and Van Mara and I just clicked from the get-go,” she said.

“It was an absolute buzz. And not only was he winning, but he was winning in the fast class, so they were some handy horses he was racing against, and he put up some very good runs.”

Fennell recently presented Pascoe with a specially-made photograph collage featuring the eight wins.

“Steve kept telling me if we got to 10 wins, he’d get me the photos. We made it to eight, then got narrowly beaten (running second) on the ninth one.

“But Steve still got it made up especially to thank me – but I think I’m the one that needs to be thanking him for the drives.”

Pascoe said she wasn’t certain of what the magic was between herself and the eight-year-old gelding, who ticked over lifetime earnings of more than a quarter of a million dollars in his unbeaten run.

“I’m not a very big person, and I feel that some horses like that – they tend to like to feel they are boss and that they’re in control,” she said.

“A lot of people talk about how some horses just go better for girls, and there are definitely some horses who are like that.”

Samantha is the daughter of South Australian harness racing couple Scott and Mandy Pascoe.

“I did the pony trots when I was a kid from when I was about seven or eight. I had a little pony called Mission Impossible who won the pony trots Inter Dominion consolation, which was a highlight,” she said.

“But I took a big break from the horses because dad was working away, and he really had to wait until I was old enough to be able to help mum and keep the team going when he wasn’t here.

“I got back into driving again when I was 21, and I’m in my third season back.”

It’s been something of a breakout season for Pascoe. In addition to her achievements with Van Mara, she recently recorded her 100th career win; had four winners at one meeting earlier in the year; and drove her first Saturday night treble at Globe Derby a few months ago.

“I’m not sure why, but things are just starting to come together. I’m driving better and that does mean you get more opportunities on better horses, and it all builds,” she said.

“I’ve been given a lot of good opportunities on good horses recently, and you can drive them with more confidence. I think you then convey that confidence onto other horses.

“I’m currently sitting on 47 wins and would love to get to 50 for the season, that would top off the year. All I really want to do is to establish myself enough so that I can get consistent drives when I lose my concession claim.”

As for the “Van and Sam” partnership? That’s likely to resume soon.

“He’s had a couple of weeks off and is being aimed some of the country cups, which will be exciting,” she said.

“I’ve already told Steve that wherever Van goes, I go – I don’t mind where he takes him, I’ll be there!”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink