First driving win for Kate Coppins

It was a very memorable night for harness racing junior driver Kate Coppins when she scored her first driving win at Cambridge Raceway last night.

The 19-year-old from Morrinsville has had her junior drivers licence for just three weeks, with her victory with President Flynntin (The Pres) coming at just her fourth drive. Making the win that extra bit special, was that President Flynntin is trained and owned by Coppins’ grand-mother, Jill Coppins.

“I grew up racing at Kidz Kartz in Nana’s colours and I used to hope that one day I’d get a real race day win, and I’ve done it today in her colours and on a horse she trains and owns, and I’m pretty happy with that!,” said Coppins, “unfortunately Nana wasn’t able to be here tonight as she couldn’t get away from work in time but I can imagine she would have been very excited watching from work!”

The gelding started the race as one of the least favoured runners having galloped early at his previous two starts. But starting off barrier 10 on the mobile tonight, President Flynntin gave Coppins no trouble, settling in to the one off three back position for an easy trip.

Travelling well into the final lap, Coppins showed confidence when electing to pull out three wide with 700 metres to travel, levelling with the leading Aldebaran Crystal at the 400 metre marker and trotting away from the field in the home straight to score the win by 2.75 lengths at huge odds of $64.60 on the tote.

“I thought he could go a good race tonight and knew the mobile start would help him but wasn’t expecting him to win the way he did,” said Coppins, “he felt much more secure tonight and once I got around the first bend, I knew he’d be alright and it was probably the best he’s felt.”

“It was pretty awesome to get the win and probably the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

PRESIDENT FLYNNTIN REPLAY

Coppins also had her first drive for her employer Arna Donnelly last night, partnering with Bad Medicine to finish third in Race 4, the Garrards Horse And Hound Mobile Pace.

“I’m very privileged to have had a drive for Arna tonight it was a big thrill for me to be put on Bad Medicine,” said Coppins.

As we often see at Cambridge, Donnelly had a successful night at her home track scoring a training double when taking out the final two races of the night. Red Rackham has relished the Tuesday meetings at Cambridge, making it a hat-trick of successes with three wins in three weeks. The Vincent gelding lead from start to finish in the hands of Zachary Butcher to win the TFS Horse Transport Mobile Pace by a length over Caulfield.

Donnelly’s second winner was Cracker Rock, another who led from start to finish, taking out Race 7 for Todd Mitchell.

For complete race results, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand