From competing at state level in numerous disciplines for the Breadalbane Pony Club, Hannah has now experienced success as a harness racing trainer when her pride and joy, a 7yo black gelding by the name of Pepperell Jewel - known affectionately as ‘Peppi’ - scored his first win for her at Exhibition Park, Canberra.

Too young to be granted a trainer’s licence, Pepperell Jewel is officially trained by her father Geoff; however Hannah, who holds a stable hands licence, carries out all the hard work.

Each morning before school commences, Hannah and her father float Pepperell Jewel and his stable mate Darlings Rocket to the Goulburn Paceway for their daily exercise, and then it’s off to school courtesy of Maree Hewitt.

At last Sunday-week’s meeting all the hard work paid off when ‘Peppi’, driven by David Hewitt, scored an easy win in a $3000 heat of the Loyalty Cup. Having his 101st start, Pepperell Jewell jumped straight to the front from the 2570m standing start point, and though racing a little fiercely at time, held a constant two to three lengths gap over the field.

At the bell with a lap to pace, ‘Peppi’ put the pressure on and as the field paced down the back straight his lead extended to five lengths. The first beaten was the odds on favourite Wild Oates who had trekked the leader throughout the race, and it was then left to Wildwood Shyanne to give chase.

Reaching the 200m mark Wildwood Shyanne had closed the gap to a couple of lengths but under the urging of David Hewitt the 7yo started to draw away again as they raced to the finish line. The official winning margin was 14.2m to Wildwood Shyanne with the Neil Day pacer Costalotaloot running on well to take the third place position.

The mile rate was a respectable 2:04.7 for the standing start staying distance. Hannah’s interest in harness racing stems from her father Geoff.

“Dad likes training horses and he has influenced me heaps, he shows me what to do,” she said.

“It’s a big commitment but I enjoy it, it’s very different and I get lots of help from Dennis Day, David Hewitt and all the other people at the stables.”

A 7yo black gelding, Pepperell Jewel, was purchased by Hannah for the bargain price of only $500 and to date has returned the investment five fold in the races he has contested for her.

“There is something about the standardbred, personally I like them because they are quiet breed; they don’t get all fizzed up,” says Hannah, giving an apt descriptor for ‘Peppi’.

Hannah’s aspirations are for one day to drive pacers in a race but for the time being she is kept busy balancing school, her extensive horse interests and of course, the care and training of ‘Peppi’. Pepperell Jewel will tonight compete in the $10,000 final of the Loyalty Cup.

Meantime last Sunday-week’s Canberra meeting also provided a winning double for club president Dennis Day, who book ended the meeting by taking out the first race, the $3000 ACTTAB 3yo Pace with Dyed Fast. Starting at the good odds of $8.80, the 3yo gelding led throughout to win comfortably from the unlucky Western Burner and Wandary Splash.

In the last race of the evening, heat two of the Loyalty Cup, the ever consistent Whatifwhynot notched up his ninth win of the season. Starting off a 30m handicap, Whatifwhynot was quickly away to take up a handy position one out one back by the time the field had completed half a lap of the Canberra circuit.

Enjoying the run of the race, Whatifwhynot quickly sprinted past the leader Darlings Rocket as they reached the top of the home straight before coming away to an easy 6m win in the good mile rate of 2:03.7 for the standing start 2570m journey.

Darlings Rocket held on for second, giving Hannah and Geoff Read two finalists in tonight’s $10,000 final following Pepperell Jewel’s win earlier in the night. Semi-finals of the Rich Breeders Challenge, worth $25,000m, were contested at Tabcorp Menangle on Saturday.

Goulburn trainers have a strong hand with Graham Cooper’s Bylonga Art and Dennis Day’s Serene Highness contesting the fillies’ heats. Both fillies won their way through with success in heats conducted at Bankstown and Wagga Wagga respectively.

In the 3yo colts and geldings semifinals the Neil Day trained pair of Magic Bliss and Armalife faced up to some strong opposition. In one of the strongest seasons for 3yo colts and geldings the Day competed against proven stars such as Soho Valencia, Theartofdelusion, Major Post, Grand Stride and Waldenburg.

In the 2yo Breeders Challenge heats held last Saturday-week, the Neville Hargraves trained Tarelle and David Hewitt’s Modern Dancer qualified for the rich $125,000 grand final of the Breeders Challenge, which will be held on Sunday, June 24. Meantime the Goulburn Club recently received confirmation that in the upcoming financial year it will host 10 race dates, an increase of two dates on the present season.

Additionally, the club was advised that due to reconstruction work at Menangle a metropolitan meeting would be held at the Goulburn Paceway on the Friday afternoon of the November 2.

With prize money totalling up to $24,000 per race, the program is bound to attract the best pacers in training and provides for harness fans in the Southern Tablelands a rare opportunity to witness metropolitan class racing on our door step.

On the local scene, the Goulburn Harness Racing Club will next race on Monday, July 30. The first of 10 race dates for the upcoming financial year, the club is looking forward to providing high quality country harness racing. For all the latest news go to the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au