It was a special day for young Winton junior driver Maddie Kyle at the Riverton Trotting Club meeting today.

As she closed in on the line in the Macca Lodge/Southland Helicopters Mobile pace, she cracked a grin. And by the time she hit the winning post driving Dame West, (Sky Major) it had become a full blown smile.

The win on the Gavin Johnstone trained mare was her first, in only her fourth race day drive.

From barrier four Kyle got her runner into the trail with Magnetic Roxie taking up the pacemaker role. Magnetic Roxie got Dame West to the passing lane and Kyle shot up the inside to win by a length and a quarter from Sure To Rise.

“The moment I pulled her out at the top of the straight I knew I had it, and there’s no better feeling than that,” she said.

DAME WEST REPLAY

After an outstanding run of form without winning, Dame West was made favourite for today’s race.

“I haven’t been nervous in hardly any of my other races but I was very nervous today. A lot of people were telling me my horse was the favourite and I wished they hadn’t. It put a bit of pressure on me (laughter).”

Kyle grew up around horses with her parents Alister and Vicky and her sister Natasha.

“Mum and Dad probably expected me to do something else but we were bred into it. I turned up to Kidz Kartz when I was five and probably wasn’t meant to be there (laughter). I’m doing the cadets course now. I’m into my second season of working with the start crew.”

She also works fulltime for Branxholme trainer Kirk Larsen.

“Kirk’s been awesome to work for and I couldn’t think of anyone better to learn off. He’s been very good to me and I really appreciate it.”

Having ticked off her first goal, she’d now like to get more outside drives.

‘It’s proven a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Hopefully today and my other starts will help me a little bit.”

Another of Maddie’s goals is to win a race on a horse trained by her father.

“Definitely. I’ll have to compete with Tash (sister Natasha) and kick her off some of Dad’s horses. We’ve both got a few young ones coming through so we’ll have the consistent drives on them, which will be good.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink