Bond off to Interdoms

16 year old Southland Kidz Katz driver Millie Bond is off to Brisbane as New Zealand’s sole representative in the Kidz Kartz/Pony Trot Interdominions.

“Kidz Kartz Southland nominated me. There were a few nominated from Auckland and up Canterbury way. We got the call last Thursday while I was at the races to say I’d been selected so that was pretty exciting,” the St Peter’s High School student said.

This will be the first time Millie has been on a plane and overseas and she’ll be accompanied by her mother Aimee.

“Dads got to look after the horses (laughter).”

Bond is exempt from racing in heats and gets automatic entry into the final which will be held at Albion Park on the same night as the Interdominion Finals.

“Danny Blackmore is going to organise a drive for me before the final night so I can get a feel for the pony. We’ll go into the finals night and see what we can do. I’ll pick up my colours when I get over there and a jacket that has my name and the New Zealand flag on it. I’ve just got a new Finntack helmet from Garrards and it’s just away being sign written. The Gore Town and Country Club want to sponsor me.”

Millie has been involved with Kidz Kartz in Southland for three seasons.

“I was wanting to do it for a while and I came across Jess and Michelle (Horton) the instructors. I asked if I could join and I started that three seasons ago. I enjoyed it and it’s been a great experience.”

Her first ponies came from Canterbury trainer Jamie Gameson.

“He gave me my first two ponies Bingo and Doc. Bingo won about nine and Doc won three or four.”

Since then she’s recorded plenty of other wins.

“Last season I got a bigger pony called George (The Ginger Ninga) and he won ten. He’s 12.2 hands so he’s a wee bit bigger (than normal). We just had to get him trotting better because he was a bit hitchy in the back. He got broken in by my uncle Graham Bond and he’s come a long way. He was a naughty pony but we sorted him out. Dad even hopped in the cart which was a bit surprising (laughter).”

To keep her hand in, Bond is part of the Gateway programme where Secondary School students spend time away from the classroom and learn other skills.

“I’m doing the Gateway programme on Thursdays at Gore with Tony Stratford. I’m driving fast work there and when I can, I help Dad.”

Millie’s family is steeped in harness racing history. Her father Lyndon has trained 78 winners from his Mataura base while her grandfather Jimmy trained 120, including the inaugural Southern Supremacy Stakes winner Crafty Kooba.

Bond senior also travelled to Australia when he was young, having charge of Tactile when he won the NSW, Victoria and South Australian Derbys in the 1962-63 season.

Millie will be hoping to do the family proud.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink