Sophie's in harness for life

New Zealand born reinswoman Sophie Jefferies reveals a frank admission when recalling her first day on the job in a harness racing stable.

While undertaking a veterinarian nurse course at university, 18-year-old Jefferies secured a role as a stable hand at Kyle Marshall’s Cambridge stables.

“Up until the day I started with Kyle I had never seen a harness race,” admitted Jefferies.

“I thought this will be interesting and I’ll see what I’m in for,” she said.

Jefferies though was no stranger to horses having grown up as an equestrian in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island.

“I had no trouble with riding horses but I was terrified the day I had a ride in a double seater sulky at Kyle’s place,” she said.

Shortly after Jefferies unexpectedly found her niche in racing.

“Kyle gave me a drive by myself in the sulky behind a quiet one and I just loved it,” she said.

The 23-year-old Jefferies obtained her driver’s licence in March however fittingly she landed her first win across the ditch while back home for a surprise birthday party in June.

“I flew home for a surprise birthday but I was the one who got the surprise when Ross Paynter gave me a drive on a horse called You Little Beauty who won at Cambridge,” she said.

Jefferies notched up her third career win recently when she partnered the Scott Ewen trained pacer Hes Olly to an all the way win at Warragul.

Hes Olly had sufficient gate speed to lead from a favorable front row draw however he was far from an armchair ride for Jefferies who constantly had to keep the four- year- old’s mind on the job.

Hes Olly was headed by the $2.40 favorite Dukes Choice around the home turn however Jefferies persuaded the son of Hes Watching to do his best in the home straight holding off Madame Annie along the sprint lane by a metre and a half.

“I’ve driven him twice before for two seconds so I know what he’s like and he tends to switch off in his races so you have to keep at him,” she said.

Meanwhile Jefferies reports the stable’s outstanding three-year-old Son Of Mac is recovering well after having his Victoria Derby campaign terminated due to knee spurs.

“He’s had the operation to remove the knee spurs and he looks great,” she said.

“All going well he should be back at the track by mid next year.”

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink