Champagne moment in Olivia’s first win

It couldn’t have been scripted better: a longshot winner, a local crowd, and a young harness racing driver breaking through for the very first time.

Central Victorian reinswoman Olivia Jardine ticked off a career milestone when she steered $41 outsider Champagnes to a surprise victory in just her ninth career drive at Maryborough yesterday (July 28).

“I’m on cloud nine – over the moon!” Jardine said.

“It’s hard to believe it happened and on my home track, too. I did most of my trials at Maryborough, and a lot of my support crew were there.”

Jardine’s triumph came with a polished performance aboard the seven-year-old trotting mare Champagnes (Bacardi Lindy), trained by Wedderburn horseman Nick Youngson.

“She had a second last start but when I got to the track all the other drivers were saying they hoped I’d had my Weetbix this morning because Champagnes can really pull hard!” she laughed.

But if there were nerves behind the scenes, they didn’t show on the track. Jardine got the mare away faultlessly from barrier four and surged to the front, before handing up to Jessicas Story (Trent Fiscalini), with race-favourite Beautiful Sunrise sitting parked.

“It surprised me a bit because I didn’t really think she had a lot of gate speed,” Jardine said.

“She pulled a bit in the warm-up, but she came off the gate beautifully. Everyone else went back, and we crossed easily. Once I got the spot behind the leader, I thought we were a good chance and in the end she did it easily – seven metres is a good margin.”

Jardine said the real magic was sharing the milestone moment with her local community.

“(Club stalwart) Les Chapman was the first person to give me a thumbs up on the track, and all the people who sit inside in the function room and the Rotary Club members were there on the sidelines yahooing for me. It was great!” she said.

While the Jardine name is well known in Maryborough harness racing circles, Olivia is a relative latecomer to the sport.

“My grandfather Edward Jardine and his first cousin Hughie were always in the sport, and my Aunty Gail was married to Dick Benger, so she was heavily involved too. (Trainer) Maree Caldow is her daughter,” Jardine said.

“Dad was more into motorbikes and didn’t follow his father into harness racing. I went to the trots a few times when I was a kid, but I thought it was pretty boring, so I went for the riding side of things.

“Dad’s into the gallops and I really wanted to be a jockey.  But I’m an only child and mum and dad would only give me permission to do something a ‘bit less dangerous’, which they thought was harness racing!”

Currently studying a science degree with hopes of becoming a vet, Jardine fits her driving commitments around university and part-time work at the Dunolly bakery.

She first began helping out at Gerard Jamieson’s stable and later joined Pompapiel trainer John Davidson’s team, crediting him for helping her get opportunities.

“John is a great help, ringing around and getting people to give me a go. He is my agent!” she said.

“I actually got the drive on Champagnes today through John. Nick had originally nominated another driver, but when he stuck with the other horse, John swooped in and told Nick he should give me a try! I think Nick was pretty rapt with how things panned out.

“Dad was there to see my win and he was over the moon, but mum was home sick. They don’t say too much, but I think they’re pretty chuffed that I’ve worked pretty hard to get that first win.”

There’s no rest for the newly-minted winner, who’s back in the sulky at Bendigo tomorrow night with her “little buddy” Clem McArdle, the horse she debuted on and has partnered several times since.

“A win on him would just top the week off for me!” she said.

See the full Bendigo fields here: https://www.harness.au/racing/2025-07-30/bendigo/N/meeting?includeTrials=false

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink