Youngsters set to shine at ID21 grand final

While all eyes are on the big guns of the rich Inter Dominion finals at Menangle tomorrow night, for three Victorian rising stars on the road to Sydney with their ponies, the excitement could scarcely be higher.

The trio Charlie Pekin, Amelia Walliss and Reagan Clarke are being sponsored by Harness Racing Victoria to represent the State in the 2021 Mini Trot feature as part of the “Inter” carnival.

Pekin and Walliss, both aged 11, will compete with their stars Little Blue and Lightning Jack in the “Shetlands” division, while Clarke, 14, will partner Pride of Petite in the “Ponies” event.

To support the youngsters’ campaigns, HRV is providing two nights’ accommodation, $200 fuel vouchers and a set of Victorian-branded racing silks.

Clarke’s hometown harness racing club at Ballarat also recently presented her with a bag containing shirts, snacks and a $100 voucher, while well-known Kyabram couple Mark and Michelle Watson have given $50 to each of the youngsters.

Clarke’s father Stephen, a longtime trainer-driver, said the trip would be remembered for a lifetime by all of those involved.

“I took our son Connor (now an up-and-coming concession driver) up to Menangle several years ago with the same pony that Reagan is now driving,” he said.

“Connor won his race, but the racehorse I took up as a companion for the trip, Isabelle Delacour, didn’t go so good at all. Connor was very happy, while I wasn’t all that thrilled!

“This time I’m taking two up to race. A progeny of Isabelle Delacour, Monsieur Delacour, is coming up, as well as Upanatom, and they’re both in the $25,000 Indigenous drivers’ invitation race, the Kari JC Caffyn Plate.

“It’s a 20-hour round trip and hopefully all of us have good fortune this time!”

An excited Reagan has been involved in pony trots since she was six years old, and this year saw her claim the prestigious Melton Plate with Pride of Petite. It will be the first time she has driven on the spacious Menangle circuit, though.

The other two selected drivers also have strong harness racing connections.

Charlie Pekin’s father Gary, based in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley region, has been a harness racing stalwart over many years, while Amelia has grown-up around the sport. Both youngsters are junior members of the Kyabram Trotting Club.

“We are proud to support our members and win, lose or draw, we know they, along with Reagan, will do themselves and our State proud,” the club said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink