Name was the deal clincher for Olivia

Bubbly young Victorian harness racing driver Olivia Weidenbach found it impossible to resist the opportunity to buy a horse she thought was just “meant to be” for her.

“I’d been looking out for a while for a suitable horse that I could take to the races and drive myself,” Olivia said.

“I work for Anthony Butt and his partner Sonya Smith and one day last week Sonya rang and said she had found me the perfect horse.

“She asked me to guess what its name was. I had no idea, but when she said it was Lady Olivias Folly, I didn’t hesitate and told her ‘Yep, I’m buying it’!”

Twenty minutes later, the deal was done with owner Matt Maguire and trainer Greg Sugars.

Olivia said ironically, although perhaps not unexpectedly, her parents Paul and Rosie had been following the horse.

“I’m telling everyone that it was named after me,” she laughed.

Four-year-old Lady Olivias Folly (BGs Folly-Lady Anton (Our Sir Vancelot) has been a model of consistency with one win and eight placings from 17 starts.

“Her win was at Echuca last week when Greg bustled her early to lead and then she did the rest pretty easily,” Olivia said.

Lady Olivias Folly, now under the care of Sonya Smith and with the stable name of ‘Liv’, has settled into her new surrounds at the Melton stables.

“Greg’s wife Jess Tubbs was training her and of course the horse looked absolutely magnificent,” Olivia said.

“She’s a lovely mare, nice and very easy going. She’s become best friends with another one here and they are now paddock buddies.”

Lady Olivias Folly goes around on Thursday night in race four at Ballarat, (click here to view fields) to be driven by her owner in the $7000 Nestle Pace. The mare is one of the main chances, listed in early markets as a $4.50 quote.

Olivia comes from a prominent and popular harness racing family. Her late grandparents Leli and Mary Mifsud established Grand Lodge at Kilmore, both her parents are trainers and her older brother Kevin is a trainer and driver. And then there’s a host of uncles, aunties and cousins.

After getting her junior driver ticket, Olivia got the money at her very first race drive at Bendigo in February 2019 with the John Nicholson-trained Smart Little Shard.

She’s previously owned an old horse in Stuart, but on Thursday night on Lady Olivias Folly it will be the first time she’s driven in her owner colors.

“I’ve been driving her at the stables and she’s no problem at all, so I’m excited to see how she goes,” Olivia said.

The young horsewoman is thoroughly enjoying working for the Butt/Smith team.

“Sonya is a very good trainer, while ‘Ants’ is an outstanding role model for me as a driver. I’m lucky to be around them,” she said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink