Some help from above seals it for Shannon

One hundred or more winners in a season is par for the course for champion West Australian harness racing reinsman Shannon Suvaljko.

And although he recently passed the “ton” for the eighth time that wasn’t the main aim for the successful freelancer this month.

It was mission accomplished on Sunday at Collie when he took out the annual memorial race in honor of his late parents Joseph and Margaret Suvaljko – finishing ahead of his daughter, rising star Emily.

“Emily won it last year on Caruba, a horse that I’d helped train. She begged me for that drive because she wanted to win the race so much and it was a really emotional day for her, but this year I was determined it would be my turn,” Shannon said.

“Emily tweeted before the race that I’d got her measure the night before (at Narrogin), but that Sunday was a big day and she was going to get one back!

“So in the preliminary I looked to the sky and said ‘mum and dad, you better be with me today. I can’t stand the comments and messages she’ll send if I don’t beat her!

“And the race went to script – obviously mum and dad were with me!”

Shannon Suvaljko won the feature with Make It Quick (Follow the Stars – Quick Remark (Jeremes Jet) for his neighbor, trainer Craig Hynam, ahead of Ideal Whitby, driven by Emily. The win was one of three for the day for Hynam – who had never before trained a double, and went home from Collie with his first treble, two driven by Shannon (Patrikiar (Renaissance Man – Crimson and Clover) and Make it Quick) and one by Emily (Be Home Soon (Fly Like An Eagle – Gypsy Armbro).

It seemed Joseph and Margaret were with the Suvaljko clan for the weekend – Shannon and Emily not only got the quinella in the family feature, but also drove three winners apiece on the card at Collie. Of the State’s 14 regional races at the weekend at Collie and Narrogin, the father and daughter combo won 11 – Shannon seven and Emily four.

“We have a good friendly rivalry going. There’s always banter, but it’s good banter. She’s super competitive and like me she’s trying to win everything she’s in. She’s got the killer instinct, that’s for sure, and she’s having a great season,” Shannon said.

“Emily got 100 for the first time last season and she’s just passed 150 wins this season and is second on the State premiership. She’s very dedicated. She does her form really well now and asks me a million questions about who’s going to lead, or what might happen here or there – but I only tell her if I can’t beat her!”

Shannon said the Collie circuit would undoubtedly always be one of the family’s favorite tracks.
“It’s only an hour and a half or so to get there. They race at a good time so that you don’t have to leave too early to get there, and you don’t get home too late. And occasionally you have a pretty good day of it, like on Sunday,” he said.

“When dad trained we were young fellas and the old man always took one or two up to Collie. He wasn’t a huge trainer, but he was a good country trainer and he just loved this place.

“Dad died when I was 24 and they’ve had the memorial race at Collie nearly every year since. I’ve trained the winner a few times, and my brothers Callan and Joey have won it a few times as trainer, and Emily won it last year. Every time it means a lot,” he said.

“Mum passed away in 2018 and Collie had been her favorite day out. She didn’t go to the trots a hell of a lot, but she always loved Collie and after she passed the club put her name to the race as well. My mum was a champion, my hero and I am so chuffed to win her race.”

The feature race win also headlined an unforgettable day for trainer Craig Hynam.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink