Wilkins to make NZ driving debut

After having nine driving wins across the Tasman, Brooke Wilkins will make her Kiwi debut at Alexandra Park tonight.

The 27-year-old will drive Treacherous Baby in Race 1, the Alex Bar and Eatery Mobile Pace for her employers Mark and Nathan Purdon.

Born in Sydney into a racing family Wilkins was always going to get involved in the sport but her racing career stalled in 2019.

“I actually had a bad fall, and it put me out for quite a while,” she said, “afterwards I moved to Melbourne and worked for Emma Stewart, and she pushed me back into driving.”

Across the Tasman she had 39 training wins and nine driving successes.

For the past two and a half years she has been honing her craft with Purdon Racing with driving taking a back seat due to travelling often with their horses.

“Since moving up to Pukekohe Nathan (Purdon) pushed to see if I’d drive a couple at the trials and it sort of went from there.”

“Then this mare on Friday needed a junior driver so it worked out pretty well.”

Just this week Wilkins drove comeback pacer Akuta at the Pukekohe trials.

Now she gets her chance on race night with Treacherous Baby, who’s rated a $2.30 second favourite in what is just a five-horse field.

“I think she’s got a good chance. She hasn’t had much luck lately and her form isn’t too hot, but I don’t think she’s run a bad race at all,” she said, “I think we’ll just drive her a bit cold on Friday and save her for one run.”

Mantra Blue looks to be her main danger, having her second start back this campaign after running a game fifth in the North Island Breeders Stakes last week.

“I think people probably underestimate how quick she (Treacherous Baby) is and being a small field, I think she’ll be right in it.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jordyn Bublitz for Harness Racing New Zealand