IT’S a fair bet Olivia Weidenbach never forgets her first race drive.
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That’s because it was also her first win.
The 17-year-old from Wahring, just over an hour east of Bendigo, got her career in the sulky off to a flying start at Lord’s Raceway on Thursday night, when she won aboard the smart John Nicholson-trained four-year-old Smart Little Shard.
Olivia, the son of trainer Paul Weidenbach and a graduate from the pony trots program, showed plenty of patience and poise in timing her run to perfection to round up the leader Bundy Playboy in the shadows of the post.
Her win drew a massive roar from her many family and friends in the crowd, but not before a few anxious moments for the young driver.
“I was a bit worried that I didn’t get there, but I heard everyone cheering for me, so I thought I might have just got there, she said.
Weidenbach, who works full-time with the horses alongside her mother and father and brothers, said she was grateful for the confidence shown in her by trainers John and Rhys Nicholson.
“They have been really good to me in giving me the opportunity to drive one of their nice horses in one of these races,” she said.
“It didn’t go to plan, but I just drove him how I thought and they just left it in my hands. I’m really grateful.”
“Hopefully I can keep things going from here and drive more winners.”
Adding a sense of occasion to the victory, Weidenbach’s win was the middle of three achieved by female drivers, helping boost the tally raised by the Team Teal campaign for ovarian cancer awareness by $900.
“I am honoured to wear these teal pants and get a win for the campaign,” she said.
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