Suvaljko joins an exclusive list

Emily Suvaljko joins an exclusive group of female harness racing drivers, becoming just one of four to drive a quartet of winners at a meeting in Western Australia.

On Monday July 19 at Pinjarra, Suvaljko achieved the feat after being so close on multiple occasions, with a handful of winning trebles under her belt.

The 20-year-old walked away with her new personal best with wins on board Rockin Rufus, Burghley Shard NZ, Leosabi and The White Rabbit NZ.

The wins were that bit more special for Suvaljko, with a winning treble for her boss and mentor Nathan Turvey, who walked away with a 100 per cent runners to winners strike rate at his home track.

“It was a goal that’s always been on my list and I’m glad I could finally tick it off,” Suvaljko said.

“What made it even better was winning on Burghley Shard NZ for Kristy Elson as she organised Polyflor to sponsor me for Pacing For Pink, as well as driving three winners for Nathan (Turvey) as he’s been a big part of my career and my growth as a driver.”

Suvaljko comes from a long line of drivers and trainers in the harness racing industry, but there are two women in her family that spent some time in the sulky.

It started with her aunty, Georgena Navin (nee Suvaljko) sister of Shannon, Callan and Joe, who was a licenced reinswoman from the age of 17 to roughly 24, gaining her licence around 1987.

Navin still holds a keen interest in the industry as an owner and breeder, purchasing Five Tin Lids with her husband Phill, and Emily’s parents Julie and Shannon at the yearling sales and has since gone on to breed from her, producing The Midas Touch, who is currently racing for trainer Robert Flannery.

“I always tell my brothers that I gave it away for them to get the drives,” Navin joked.

Sarah Suvaljko (Emily’s aunty) was a licenced reinswoman from 1990 up until 2006, hanging up her reins after having her boys Joseph, Daniel and Aaron, with two of her boys Joseph and Daniel now reinsmen themselves.

Sarah drove in a total of 245 races over the 16 years she held her licence and is still currently has a team of 15 horses in her care.

Making her debut in the 17/18 season, Suvaljko has driven in a total of 2638 races and yesterday’s successful day at Pinjarra brought up her total wins to 268.

“My dad is the reason I started driving so I would say he’s my biggest influence as a driver- there’s a lot of competition and banter between us,” she said.

With a big future ahead of her, Suvaljko has had the help of many successful drivers, but doesn’t feel as though her gender plays any part of her success out, with Suvaljko stating that it’s an even playfield out on the track.

“Colin (Brown) and Dylan (Egerton-Green) have helped me so much, giving me trackwork drives and helping me through the school, and are still there with some pointers if I need them. Also, my loungeroom driver Owen Gilbride (stepdad), he watches all of my races and records them and isn’t afraid to tell me what I can improve on,” she said.

By Ashleigh Paikos for RWWA