Female drivers raise the bar in Team Teal

The “teal” six weeks are Queensland harness racing driver Chloe Butler’s favourite time of the year and she was proud to be able to end Team Teal 2023 in style on Saturday evening.

After being one of the leading reinswomen during the campaign this year, the 19-year-old Butler stormed to victory in the Team Teal Cup on Saturday night behind the Shane Graham-trained Red Trix (Auckland Reactor).

The annual Team Teal Cup carried extra significance this year, with the race also honouring the late Jenny Stone.

The respected Stone was the face of the annual Team Teal campaign in 2022 in Queensland after bravely detailing her battle with ovarian cancer.

After being heavily involved in the campaign for the last few years, Stone sadly passed away before the start of the 2023 Team Teal period.

The formerly Redcliffe-based Stone was first informed of ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2015.

Butler – who has been a Team Teal ambassador in previous years – recognised the importance of Saturday evening’s victory.

“I am glad to win a race named after Jenny and happy to get the job done,” Butler said.

The annual Team Teal campaign consists of six weeks of fund-raising initiatives across the Queensland harness racing industry to help aid ovarian and other gynaecological cancer research.

From February 1 to March 15 every year, the Queensland harness racing industry unites to raise funds, with $200 donated every occasion a Queensland reinswoman drives a winner in the Sunshine State.

The female drivers in Queensland were on song over the six weeks and lifted the bar from their tally just 12 months ago.

Butler and Narissa McMullen led the way for the ladies with 16 victories each over the period while Narissa’s younger sister Taleah also went past double figures, driving home 10 of her own.

It was an even spread over the six weeks as 12 individual reinswomen added to the tally.

“We are proud to raise $15,400 for the cause, which is an increase again from 2022, where $13,600 was able to be raised,” Racing Queensland’s Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick said.

“It is fantastic to see the industry’s willingness to fundraise and support such an important cause; it is extremely heartening and demonstrates everything that is great about our industry.

“It was great to also see so many female drivers contribute to the tally, with 12 all up driving winners in the period, as Chloe and Narissa led the way with 16 each.”

Butler – who is the daughter of leading Sunshine State trainer Jack – looks forward to competing in Team Teal every year.

“It is my favourite time of the year, it makes winning a lot better,” she said.

“We had a lot more girls win races this year and to raise more money than last year, that is great.

“I was happy with the job we all did.”

Red Trix is only a newcomer to the Sunshine State and the Graham stable.

Butler – who drove more than 100 victories last campaign – was over the moon to pick up the assignment on the mare once fields were released last week in the lead-up to Saturday’s program.

“I had my eyes set on winning the Team Teal Cup after running second to Kelli Dawson last year,” Butler said.

“When I saw the fields during the week and noticed that I has the best horse in the race so I was pretty confident going into it.”

Butler and Red Trix overcame a second row barrier to draw level with Arco – who was being driven by Kelli Dawson – as they approached the home turn before powering away to score by just over seven metres.

RED TRIX REPLAY

The seven-year-old pacer is now unbeaten in two Queensland starts after formerly being prepared by Peter Russo in NSW.

“It was the best one in the race,” Butler said.

“The horse got a bit keen early and that is why I had to take off.

“Once I was off and gone, the horse never gave up and kept going.”

In conjunction with WomenCan, Team Teal donations support the Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group’s education and prevention program – Survivors Teaching Students – bringing ovarian cancer survivors into the classroom of medical students to share their experiences.

The funds will provide support for patients to access gynaecological cancer clinical trials, particularly in regional and remote areas, ensuring women have access to the best available care, irrespective of where they live.

The Team Teal campaign was created by Duncan McPherson OAM, who lost his wife Lyn to ovarian cancer in 2010.

McPherson co-founded the campaign with fellow harness owners Michael Taranto and Jim Connelly as a way to associate their passion of racing with the cause to fund clinical research nurses.

Click here for more information on the 2023 Team Teal campaign.

For complete Albion Park results, click here.

by Jordan Gerrans, for Racing Queensland