Boilover gives young driver big win

Until Tuesday afternoon 16-year-old Llandilo harness racing reinsman Bryson Grima had recorded just three winning drives from limited opportunities.

Bryson, who is in his first year of race driving, shares his time between working with the horses and completing his apprenticeship as a metal fabricator.

On Tuesday at Tabcorp Park Menangle, Grima brought up his biggest win to date when he partnered Schouten Island to cause a boilover in the first heat of the Metropolitan TAB Regional Championships.

Schouten Island was sent out at prohibitive odds of $71 on TAB fixed odds but Grima gave the Joe Conolly-trained eight-year-old gelding a perfect trip behind leader and favourite Rockin With Elvis for much of the 2300 metres, before finding clear running halfway up the straight.

From there, Schouten Island gained the upper hand and despite attempts from Rockin With Elvis to rally and a late challenge from a fast-finishing Surf Ace, he was able to score by a clear margin, rating 1:56.4 in the process.

“He has been a great horse to me,” said young Grima.

“My parents actually bought him for me to have a horse to complete my trial drives on.

“He then provided me with my first winning drive at Penrith and has now qualified for a Group 1 final, so it feels quite surreal.

“Tuesday’s race could have not panned out any better for us.

“He travelled so well for me throughout, then when I asked him to go, he found plenty.

“I must admit I got very excited as the winning post loomed.

“The win meant quite a lot to me and my family and hopefully we can now draw well in the final.

“I give Joe [Conolly] a lot of credit for where I am at with my horsemanship.

“He has taught me so much and it is great that we have shared this special win together.”

Unfortunately, Bryson is unable to take to the reins as a concession reinsman in the metropolitan class final.

“As a junior driver, I cannot drive in the Group 1 final, but we are hoping either Cameron Hart or Chris Geary will be available,” said Grima.

“That will depend on what other horses qualify from the heats.”

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW