Tears of joy for first driving success

Outback New South Wales concession reinswoman Elley-May Adams scored the sweetest of harness racing maiden wins aboard Super Dry (Ultimate Art) at “bolters odds” at Mildura on Friday night (July 4).

“It was pretty special. I actually had a cry after the race when I realised that I’d just held on – but they were happy tears!” Adams said.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to get your first winner and I still can’t believe it actually happened.”

Competing in just her 12th race, the teenager showed a touch of class to snatch the win in the Club Merbein Pace after beginning from the awkward barrier 10.

Adams avoided trouble from gallopers inside her after the start and manoeuvred Super Dry expertly through the early stages to pounce on the back of the leader Bring My Bling (Ryan Backhouse).

“Super Dry usually gets up on the bit when you swing him around to score up behind the mobile barrier and when there was a false start, I thought I might be in trouble,” Adams said.

“But he was fine and was always travelling well behind the leader,” she said.

Her instincts proved sharp going down the back straight for the final time. When race favourite Zany Girl (Wayne Hill) galloped in the death-seat, Adams seized the opportunity and peeled Super Dry off the fence.

The gelding responded bravely, surging past Youwantobelieveit (Luke Watson) and digging deep to hold off a late dive from Super Suspect (Luke Dunne).

See all of the Mildura race replays, including Elley-May’s win in race 2, here:

“We started at odds of 40/1, but I did get told that he was 100/1 at one stage,” she said.

Super Dry is owned by Michael and Michelle Honson of Broken Hill. Michael, a long-time local trainer and President of the Broken Hill Harness Racing Club, trains a small team and has mentored Adams over recent years.

“I’ve been helping Michael for a few years.  They were over the moon with the win, but we didn’t have the chance to celebrate after the race because we had a 300-kilometre trip to get back home!”

Adams has been around horses for as long as she can remember but began her harness racing career at Mildura on April 1 this year, driving Super Dry to a fourth on debut. Since then, she has steadily built experience, with several handy drives under her belt.

“I’ve managed a few fourths and fifths before getting the win. I feel more and more confident each time I’m out there competing, but the gaps still close very quickly!”

Despite the demands of harness racing, Elley-May remains active in the show and rodeo circuit, often competing in gymkhanas and barrel races across New South Wales and South Australia.

“I finished second in a barrel race recently and next weekend we’re off to Milparinka, about two-and-a-half hours away, where there’s a gymkhana,” she said.

“Michael is thinking of racing at Mildura again next Friday afternoon, so I’ll be busy.”

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink