By Brigette Solomon
There is another new addition to the northern junior driver ranks this week with Kate Coppins having her first race day drive at Cambridge Raceway today.
The 19-year-old from Morrinsville, who is the granddaughter of trainer Jill Coppins, has long been involved with horses, competing in Kidz Kartz and equestrian events. Through family, Coppins has always been involved with harness racing and is now employed by Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly and loving every minute.
“I got my trials licence when I was in my last year at high school but when I finished school I decided to take a break from horses and worked on a dairy farm for a year,” says Coppins, “but since coming back to work for Arna at the start of the year, I’m 100 percent certain that I want to give driving a real crack, I absolutely love it.”
Coppins’ debut coincides with the start of weekly lower grade races at Cambridge, an integral part of the new “The Future Starts Now” strategy implemented by Harness Racing New Zealand for the 2024/25 season and beyond.
The first meeting will feature six races, each worth $8000.
The Tuesday meetings are part of the “Look North” strategy aimed at revitalising racing in top half of the North Island. They have been designed to supplement the Friday Nights Lights (FNL) concept which sees dual meetings, usually at Alexandra Park and Addington, every Friday night.
Coppins’ first drive is President Flynntin in Race 1, The SG Stud Handicap Trot over 2200 metres. Trained by her grandmother Jill Coppins at Morrinsville, the five-year-old gelding has been freshened since last racing on May 16. The gelding starts tonight’s race off a 30 metre handicap.
“I’ve driven President Flynntin in plenty of workouts so know him well, and I’ve been given very few instructions except to go out there and enjoy it,” says Coppins, “I have a pretty big support crew coming to watch which is pretty cool.”
In Race 2, the Diamond Racing Stables Mobile Pace for Junior Drivers, Coppins drives the Ross Paynter-trained She’s Apples.
The four-year-old mare by Sweet Lou was a smart winner on debut here at Cambridge on the 19th July. On that occasion the mare settled back in running and ended up four wide over the final 400 metres before winding up late in the home straight to win by a length.
“She won nicely at her first start but there are a few nice horses in the field and she’ll be starting off the second line (10),” says Coppins, “I had a drive of her in track work on Saturday to get a feel for her and Ross has told me he’ll be happy so long as she’s running on in the finish.”
“I’m pretty excited and lucky to have a couple of nice enough horses to have my first drives on,” says Coppins “It’s also pretty special to be having my first drive in my Nana’s colours.”
And while Coppins isn’t engaged to drive one of her employer’s horses today, Donnelly is pleased to see Coppins join the junior driver ranks.
“She’s a good kid who sits nicely in the cart and she’s got a couple of good drives to get started with tonight,” says Donnelly “It’s so good to see a couple of new young drivers coming through.”
