Digging deep: Sutherland’s road to success

When New Zealander Luke Sutherland packed his bags for Australia in 2023, harness racing wasn’t high on his list of priorities.

Instead, the 35-year-old had his sights set on hard work and big machines.

“Back home I was a drainage layer, and I moved to Queensland really with an eye to make better money doing excavating work around Brisbane and Waterford,” Sutherland said.

“But an opportunity came up in harness racing at the start of 2025 with Michael Brennan at N40 Racing on the Gold Coast, so I decided to take a chance – I guess I didn’t really expect it would lead to where it has,” he said.

That leap of faith has paid off. A move south to Victoria has proven a turning point for Sutherland, who is now working full time for the Horsham-based Aaron Dunn stable and recently celebrated his third driving success.

“I have always loved horses, but initially I wasn’t into standardbreds. When I was 19, I had a share in a galloper. It was placed at its first start, but it really wasn’t much chop,” Sutherland laughed.

“I remember my Nanna and grandfather following the horses closely, and I had an uncle who had a share in a few pacers. And one of my best mates is Robbie Close, who is a very good NZ driver. (Close enjoyed a successful 2025 season that saw him win 69 races and top $1M in stakes for the first time.)

“But I didn’t really get involved back home until about 10 years ago when a friend of mine, Andrew Fitzgerald, introduced me to Matt Purvis, and I did trackwork for him on Saturdays, because I was working other days.”

After deciding to give harness racing a full-time crack with N40 Racing, Sutherland obtained his trials driving licence before stepping into race day company for nine drives.

“The closest I got to winning a race was a second placing for Michael and I also ran another second for Gemma Hewitt and Brendan Barnes,” he said.

“But I got to know Connor Clarke who had shifted from Ballarat to work for N40 racing. Connor suggested I should look at competing at the Mildura meetings in Victoria to get some more race drives. So a local trainer in Mildura, Rob Nolan, booked me to drive his horse Flameblaster.”

The 20-hour road trip may seem a long way to go for a single race drive, but for Sutherland it proved the catalyst for everything that has followed.

“I drove down, and at the meeting by chance I bumped into Aaron Dunn who offered me a job. Aaron has been so good to me and I’m thoroughly enjoying working with him,” he said.

Sutherland celebrated his maiden race driving win at Mildura on April 7 aboard G B Brave for trainer Kate Attard – and with that breakthrough out of the way, the wins have started to come more freely.

He has since added victories with She’s Poppy for Sandra O’Connor at Mildura on April 17, and Scooter Lou for his boss Aaron Dunn at Ballarat on April 23.

“That first win was a night to remember, though. Mum told me that they were watching my drives at home on the TV and my dad was jumping around with excitement!” he said.

“I think I’m feeling more confident with the more drives I have. I’m sort of feeling right at home out on the track now.”

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink