Ottley becomes record breaker

“I’m a little bit speechless actually. I don’t want to get emotional but there are so many people I want to thank on the way. It’s just unreal,” driver Sam Ottley told Matt Markham on Trackside after Masterly (Love You) produced her 100th winning drive for the season at the Westport harness racing meeting today.

In doing so she creates history, becoming the first female driver in New Zealand to drive 100 winners in one season.

After leading early on Masterly, Ottley relinquished the top to stablemate El Conqueror but heading for home, Masterly came up the passing lane to win by three quarters of a length.

MASTERLY REPLAY

Ottley received a rousing reception when she returned to the Patterson Park birdcage with the Paul Nairn trained trotter.

“It just shows you what the Coast people are like. To have that recognition when you come back is pretty special and you can’t beat that. Look at the crowd here today.”

Ottley said she wasn’t originally listed to drive Masterly, but when scanning through the fields on the way over to the meeting she spotted her name in the driver’s column.

“It’s a pretty cool story. Davey Butt had his last race day drive on the horse and won. To get the win in these colours is great because we know how respected they are. It’s a real pinch yourself moment. Coming here with five wins to go I never dreamt it would be today.”

The other four wins achieved by Ottley for the day were on Stormy Vista for Mark Jones, Rakero Chase for Tom Bamford, Premium Player for Gavin Smith and Piccadilly Pete for Matt Purvis.

This is the third time Ottley has driven five winners in a day. The other two occasions were at Timaru in January 2018 and Reefton earlier this year.

Not only is she the first reinswoman to record 100 winners in a season, she’ll become the first senior reinswoman to finish in the top three in the New Zealand Drivers Premiership.

Of the 100 winners Mark Jones has provided 36 and overall the win on Stormy Vista was Ottley’s 250th win for Jones.

It’s been a great season for the Canterbury based reinswoman. Earlier this month she drove her 800th career winner at Ashburton.

Ottley now heads south to drive at the Gore meeting tomorrow.

“It certainly takes the pressure off but it’s still all focus and try and do the job for the next trainers and owners.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink