More pain than pleasure for punters

Teenage Victorian harness racing driver Harry O’Neill sent most quaddie punters retreating to the bar when he landed a 150/1 winner in the first leg at Cobram.

O’Neill, 18, gave a copybook exhibition at last Thursday afternoon’s meeting to take out the $7,000 Lloyd Sound Pace with What A Pleasure (All Speed Hanover-Debutante (Presidential Ball).

“I was really surprised when I heard the TAB dividends because her recent form hadn’t been all that bad. One of my mates was pretty happy because he had $10 on her!” O’Neill said.

“I bought her about two months ago. After I retired the other horse I owned, Million Dollar Art, I’d been on the lookout for another one and luckily What A Pleasure come along,” he said.

“She’s a lovely horse to do anything with – she’s very straight forward with no vices. She didn’t cost a lot of money and later on I thought she might make a nice broodmare.”

O’Neill, who comes from Chiltern, halfway between Wangaratta and Albury in northeast Victoria, landed the perfect one-out and one-back sweet seat with What A Pleasure after starting from the nine alley.

“I just kept her on the bit and waited until the final corner before I pulled her out. She went to the line strong. I don’t think the horse has ever put in a bad run— and sometimes I probably don’t give her the best chance!

“She’s pulled up great so we’ll race her next Friday at Wagga,” he said.

O’Neill has now driven three winners in just his second season of racing.

“I won on Million Dollar Art at Albury and not long ago I scored on Imapest at Wagga. I’m really enjoying it. My mum Jayne was at Cobram to see my win. She was pretty excited, although she’s always stoked when we do okay,” he said.

What A Pleasure is trained by astute horseman Peter Romero, who has enjoyed a lot of success over the years.

“I started doing a little bit for Peter when I was still at school. I was always going to go off and get an apprenticeship but enjoyed working with the horses and now work full-time for Peter,” O’Neill said.

“He’s got about 11 or 12 in work and I’m loving it. We live just down the road from him.”

O’Neill hopes to be able to combine harness racing with another sporting love—playing football—this winter.

“I play reserves for Chiltern Swans. It’s a lot of fun, but I guess if it comes to a crunch, the horses will take priority,” he laughed.

HOOFNOTE: The quaddie paid $9800! 9 (What A Pleasure), 10 ($5 winner) 8 ($6) and 10 ($2.30 fav). The trifecta paid $6500 (9, 4, 2) and the First 4 of 9, 4, 2 & 5 jackpotted.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink