Molly Turton trained winners before she drove one, but finally knows what it’s like to finish first in a race.
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And what a drive it was.
The Junee teenage sat coolly as leader The Pix started to fall into her lap and found space on Spooky Dreams just at the right time.
Getting off the pegs, the pair found clear room coming around the turn for home and managed to hold off Duke Jujon to score by 4.3 metres at Wagga on Friday night.
After more than 40 race drives since her debut over two years ago, Turton was thrilled to finally score that elusive win.
“It is unreal,” Turton said.
“I can’t believe it and it has been a long time coming.”
Just weeks ago the 19-year-old counted back just how many drives she’d had after a couple of narrow misses.
Now she hopes it won’t be as long between drinks.
“I’m happy I’ve got it now and I’ve always just wanted to get it,” Turton said.
“I’ve trained a couple of winners and always wanted to drive a winner and I’ve finally done it.
“It is so good.”
It was Sporty Dreams first win in his last 17 starts, spanning back to April, but the pair just went down five starts back after looking the winners halfway up the straight.
Turton was thrilled luck was on her side this time around.
“We managed to squeeze out there and I was just hoping nothing else was coming from behind,” she said.
Turton also trains the seven-year-old which makes the win even more special.
Spooky Dreams already provided Turton with her first win as a trainer, he when scored in May last year, but Bruce Harpley took the drive on that occasion.
No one was happier than Harpley who has been a mentor for the teen as she came through the mini trotting ranks.
“It is good all the hard work has paid off,” Turton said.
The win came with an added bonus.
With the race part of the NSW Owners Association series Turton and her mum Monique pocketed an extra $1000.
It was one of a number of bonuses handed out at Wagga on Friday night.
Me Mate Les also earned his new owners Brayden Scarr and Joel Crowhurst an extra $800 by winning the first as the jackpot horse.
It was the first leg of a double for both trainer Ellen Bartley and driver Blake Jones.
Jones scored in the next race with Four Shotzzz, who made it four wins in a row with a tough effort for Victorian trainer Luke Aylett.
Bartley also tasted success with Fire Safe as part of the Indigenous Drivers Series.
After coming series in the first heat behind Jessica Prior and Delilaah, Jimmy Brown went one better in the second heat for the Coleambally trainer.
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