Young driver wears many hats

Shannon O’Sullivan achieved her initial aim in harness racing when she drove her 100^th career winner aboard the David Aiken-trained Mighty Flying Art (Art Major) at Cobram five months ago.

The daughter of legendary horseman Jim O’Sullivan, Shannon recalls riding in a sulky as a toddler en route to securing her driver’s licence on her 18^th birthday.

“When I started driving in races all I wanted to do was get a century of wins,” O’Sullivan said.

Despite being surrounded by horses from the time she could walk, O’Sullivan harboured visions of forging a career in any sector where she could assist the community.

“I always wanted to be a teacher or a nurse where I could help people,” she said.

“But it changed a bit as I grew up and got more involved with the horses, and I went from the pony trots to driving in races.”

A couple of months ago, O’Sullivan chalked up another milestone when she landed her first metropolitan win aboard Love Ina Chevy at Tabcorp Park.

“I don’t get a lot of opportunities to drive at Melton on a Saturday night, so it was a big thrill to win on Love Ina Chevy who is a story in himself,” she said.

LOVE INA CHEVY REPLAY

The 23-year-old O’Sullivan’s potential off the track was detected by Harness Racing Victoria and these days she is a regular face on TrotsVision.

“I didn’t think I would get involved in the media, but I started doing a few radio segments and then I was approached to do some hosting on TrotsVision and I enjoy it every time I go on,” she said.

The multi-talented O’Sullivan is poised to graduate with a Degree in Exercise Science at the end of the year.

“There are a lot of similarities between horses and humans in movement so who knows where it will lead to,” she said.

“I like the clinical side of it, working in hospitals.”

O’Sullivan believes her post-graduate work-life balance will still involve a healthy dose of harness racing.

“I like the training side of things and would look at spending some time at other stables to learn more about it,” she said.

Not that she has to look far to tap into a veritable encyclopedia of the sport.

“Yes, Dad is always there to answer any questions,” she said.

“He remembers everything and has so much knowledge – he should write a book.”

O’Sullivan will be searching for her second metropolitan success when she partners the Kate Hargreaves-trained Beau Garcon in the Max Agnew Memorial Trot and Wonga Lake in the VHRC Pace at Melton this Saturday night (Aug. 20).

“Both have a chance if the races are run to suit with the right tempo,” she said.

For complete race fields, click here.

by John Dunne, for HRV