Special day for Sarah O’Reilly and Tim White

Harness racing driver Sarah O’Reilly has always wanted to win the Methven Cup and today, driving the Brent and Tim White trained American Me (American Ideal) in the Group Three feature her wish came true.

O’Reilly stepped the six year old away well when the tapes were released, and pushing the big gelding forward they took an early lead before handing up to stablemate Got You Covered (Art Major). The lead then changed twice with Franco Indie (Always B Miki) and Heza Sport (Sportswriter) taking their turns at setting the pace. As the speed went on O’Reilly was able to get American Me off the inside running line to be three back on the outside. When they turned in the six year old was up challenging for the lead and O’Reilly allowed herself a quick glance over her right shoulder to see where the challengers were coming from. Halfway down the straight she pulled the  ear plugs and he let down with a good staying run to beat Jimmy James Maguire (Bettor’s Delight) by two and a half lengths.

Sarah O’Reilly winning the 2023 Alabar Methven Cup (Race Images – Photo)

Winning connections and sponsors (Race Images – Photo)

Tim White (left) with the Methven Cup (Race Images – Photo)

It was the gelding’s twelfth lifetime win and his third for the Whites. He’s won nine races for Doug Gale and his formline wasn’t encouraging for punters going into today’s $40,000 feature.

“His Stride Master times have been great and his run at Addington wasn’t bad, so we weren’t too fazed. We’ve learnt a bit and changed him back to pulldown blinds instead of half blinds and it’s made him settle a bit more in the running. She pushed him forward today and he was able to relax on their backs,” Tim White said.

Today’s win was the horse’s fourth on the grass.

“We were looking at his form on the grass this week and this was the first time (winning) for us, and it was a peach of a drive from Sarah.”

The win was special for O’Reilly who works for the Whites as she regards this as her hometown cup.

Her father Gerard won the race on Corka Dream (Armbro Operative) in 2009. Her Uncle Patrick won the ninety six year old feature twice with Tact Halsey (Admiral Halsey) in 1998 and Bardolino (Plat du Jour) in 1990.

“To win this race for our stable was pretty special. You could see when she came into the winner’s circle, she was actually quite emotional which probably caught me off guard (laughter). She doesn’t normally give you too much to play with but she had a lot a joy which was great to see. To be completely honest she couldn’t speak after the race,” said White.

It’s the second time senior partner Brent White has won the race, he took out the 2001 edition with Cranbourne (Sir Lincoln). “He was a special horse to me.”

He continued “To do it in partnership (today) with Dad is very special and it’s the first Group win for me (on-course). My partners family are all from Methven (Vanessa Wylie) so it’s special for us to win. Her family isn’t into racing and she had zero interest in racing when she met me. It’s a great balance in my life. She’s here today with the kids so it’s pretty special.”

Tim is unsure of the race plan for American Me but that will be formulated once the horse returns home to Ashburton.

“If he can get enough ranking points the owner can have the dream of having a go at the Cup.”

It was a great day for O’Reilly as earlier she clinched the McMillan’s New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship.

Her fourth placing on Kennedy (American Ideal) in the sixth and final heat was good enough for her to win the series with 69 points, Zev Meredith finishes second on 64 points and Gemma Thornley is third with 57.

She becomes the second driver to win the championship four times joining Maurice McKendry who won back to back championships in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

“That’s not a bad record to have. She might go alright (laughter),” Tim said to close out a great day.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink