Courtney turns her hand to harness racing – with quick success

Young Victorian harness racing trainer Courtney Harris recently celebrated her first winner with just her second starter – but for now, her attention is firmly on her other sporting passion.

“I’ve got three eventing horses at the moment and it’s a really busy time from now until late October, so our race plans for our pacer Cozmo will have to fit in around eventing,” Harris said.

“There was a big equestrian weekend at Werribee a little while ago and now we are looking forward to the next eventing competition in the Yarra Valley.”

But cheering home Cozmo (Vincent) to victory at Bendigo on September 10 was still a thrill.

The five-year-old mare, perfectly driven by former local reinsman Leigh Sutton, romped home by 16 metres in the $6000 Bendigo Ski Boat Centre 4YO and Older Maiden Pace.

“I’m still reasonably new to it because I only got my trainer’s licence a few months ago and I’m the sort of person who learns by watching,” Harris said.

“We thought she was a good chance when she made her debut last month. She led but she copped a fair bit of pressure, and the lead time was very quick – it was far too fast for her and she tired,” she said.

“We headed off to the trials at Wangaratta and we were pleased with her there and we’ve learnt now that she’s better when we don’t burn the gate.

“She’s only a little horse, but she’s strong minded and she can be very tough with the right run.”

Cozmo could line up for her next start at Kilmore on Thursday (Sept 25) but that’s to be decided – and dependent on eventing commitments!

Harris said her partner Daniel Jack purchased Cozmo at the yearling sales.

“We are based with the Weidenbach family at Wahring, near Shepparton, and we are very appreciative of all their support. They have a lovely property with terrific facilities for all the horses – and there’s an arena where I spend a lot of time!” she said.

“I’ll just keep chipping away and my longtime dream is to get to the highest level with the eventing. I would compare it with preparing a horse for a Group One in that you select suitable lead-up events to get an opportunity in the bigger ones.”

Harris said she was a teenager when she first competed at eventing.

“I was probably a 15-year-old, which is a lot later than most. I was always nagging my mum to get a horse and now mum is my biggest supporter,” she said.

“We were originally from Queensland, we shifted to the Hunter Valley region because there was more eventing and it didn’t involve so much travel.

“But we still did a nine-hour trip to compete at Albury on one occasion, and then there was a three-day Adelaide event another time.”

Harris moved to Victoria in February, making competition far more central.

“Our busiest time with eventing is March to June. I often tell Daniel that he’s become my number one eventing assistant,” she laughed.

“At this stage, give me an event horse anytime – but I’m enjoying the standardbreds too!”

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink