By Mike Love
A “lot of luck” helped Samantha Ottley to her own slice of harness racing history at Westport yesterday.
She became the first female driver to rein 100 hundred winners in a single 12 month season when Masterly capped off a huge five win day at Patterson Park.
Ottley only picked up the drive on Masterly when regular driver Bob Butt was unwell and unable to attend the meeting.
“On the way over I was looking at the fields and saw my name down on this fella. So I’ve had a lot of luck here.”
Masterly and Ottley were fast away from the stand to lead in the early stages. El Conqueror eventually worked to the lead leaving Masterly and Ottley sitting in the trail just waiting on the Fresh Choice Westport passing lane. Once accessible, Ottley wasted no time in taking advantage of it and burst through with Masterly to go on to win by three quarters of a length from El Conqueror making it a Paul Nairn-trained quinella.
“It’s unreal. I’ve been fortunate. It’s a pinch yourself moment,” said Ottley.
Ottley went into the Boxing Day meeting on 95 winners, thinking the ton was definitely out of reach.
“I never dreamt of doing it today let alone drive five winners.”
Among her five wins on the day was victory in the Frank Dooley Memorial Westport Cup with the Matt Purvis trained Piccadilly Pete. Ottley’s other winners were Stormy Vista, Rakero Chase and Premium Player.
Ottley works at Mark Jones’ Burnham stables, and it was fitting that one of the winners (Stormy Vista) was trained by him.
“Big thanks to all of my supporters. Mark Jones has been a massive part of my journey and I’ve probably driven half of my winners for him.”
Her 100 wins for the season came from 808 drives. In 2021 she had 120 winners but that was an elongated 17-month season. Ottley is the “winningest” female driver in this country ever with 807 wins overall, the first coming in 2008.
Before the year is out Ottley will be driving at Gore today, back to Westport on the 28th, Banks Peninsula on the 29th and finally the Reefton meeting on the 30th.
Other highlights from yesterday’s action included a double for Michael House with Bevron and The Beach House with the latter being the first starter and winner for sire Luck Be With You.
