Stacie steps up and gets her first winner!

Victorian reinswoman Stacie Carbone admits she was somewhat reluctant in taking the step into harness racing driving – but there was no mistaking the excitement of landing her first winner at Melton (Jan 16).

And, in the end, it was the easiest of front-running victories for the 23-year-old, who was having her 24^th race drive behind the handy Clive Henderson trained Edwarde Grange (Sportswriter).

“I had a good look around at about the 300 metre mark, and I thought ‘we’re going pretty good here’, but you still never really expect it’s going to be the one,” Carbone said.

“Clive’s been telling me he’d get a winner for me, and he did!  We just got pipped on the line the week before, so it was great to get the win for him and full credit to Clive, he’s got the horse absolutely flying,” she said.

Edwarde Grange, who was bred by Henderson, has now had 37 starts for five wins and 10 placings.

Carbone followed her hobby trainer dad Mick into the sport and studied veterinary nursing before taking on a full-time role at Yulong Thoroughbred Stud at Nagambie.

“I absolutely love the horses.  I grew up around them because dad’s always trained them, ever since I was born. I always helped dad, and I did pony trots for a few years,” she said.

“I worked for a few people along the way, John Justice, Alex Ashwood and Tayla French and now I work part time for Craig Turnbull as well as doing dad’s and mine.

“I really never intended to get my driver’s licence because I was always happy to be behind the scenes.  But a lot of people encouraged me, and it was Alex and Tayla who really got me to do it.

“When I was working for them, they’d be away racing somewhere and need me to take horses to the trials, and then I wasn’t able to drive them. So they really gave me that push I needed!”

Mick had his busiest and most successful season in 2024, with 17 wins and Stacie also obtained her driver’s licence last year.

Even though she and her dad are working a team of 10 racehorses and pre-trainers, Stacie pulls on the driving gear only when she needs to.

“If I’m able to use my concession claim, like on Clive’s horse again on Sunday at Cranbourne (Jan 26) that’s great, or if the driver we want to use isn’t available, I’ll have a drive.  But generally, it’s just every now and then — and leave it to the experts when I can!” she said.

“Dad is away with his work a lot, sometimes for full weeks, so I’ve generally got plenty to do with our team.  This week we’ve got horses in at four race meetings, but I’m not driving at any of them!

“I love what I’m doing, and I’d like to get a few more pre-trainers down the track.  I’d probably like to take out my own trainer’s licence in future and have a few in my own name, but my next goal’s to get a winner for dad!”

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink