LAURA McKAY WINS AT HER THIRD RACEDRIVE
Laura McKay, a jockey-sized grand-daughter of major harness racing owners, Clive and Rona McKay, left the Rangiora meeting on Thursday, November 4, with her first winner at only her third racedrive.
Laura McKay, after winning her first race with Kowhai Whiz at Rangiora on Thursday, November 5, 2015. (Race Images photo).
Employer Mark Jones put Laura, nick-named “peanut”, on five-win trot mare Kowhai Whiz in the Crackerjack Mobile Trot and she produced a “crackerjack” drive behind the big Now Another Look gelding.
Kowhai Whiz, transferred from the Terry and Glenys Chmiel stable to the Overport Lodge team and first-up for seven months, was eased early from the outside front row draw, coming from last beginning the final mile.
She launched the big horse wide beginning the final 800m and after looming wide outside the leaders at the 400m, signs were ominous Laura and Kowhai Whiz were travelling like winners.
They held Unyielding Spirit (Stevie Golding) by a length in a useful 2:32.8 for the mobile 2000m.
Laura was surprised to salute so quickly, but thankful for the opportunity.
She is being given driving opportunites at Overport with Kimberly Butt moving on to the Gavin Smith stable.
Laura had handled the team well the the trials and had impressed first-up in her new racedriving role with her handling of longshot Fair Dinkum Bromac at Addington on November 30, making ground late for seventh.
Moment of satisfaction. Laura McKay knows she has her rivals beaten near the finish of the Crackerjack Mobile Trot with Kowhai Whiz (Race Images photo).
Her other drive was another one behind Fair Dinkum Bromac in the preceeding race at Rangiora, but he was unable to pick up the leaders wide in the run home in his third race within a week.
Laura, like employer Mark Jones, had previously gained experience working at Kentuckiana Lodge for Cran Dalgety.
After three years at Kentuckiana Lodge, she then had eight months in New South Wales with Kerry Ann Turner before returning to Christchurch last autumn to advance her career with the Mark Jones stable.
Trainer Mark Jones was able to see the win unfold from back in the field in the same race with his drive Danke being unable to quicken after Kaikoura on Monday, battling in the run home to finish sixth.
The Kowhai Whiz win furthered a good week for the yellow bee owners colours of John and Jill Hartnell, which were also carried to victory at Kaikoura on Monday by pacer Dynamic Party.
By Jeff Scott