Glenn Douglas won his maiden Victorian trainers' premiership in the season brother Daryl won his third-straight drivers' crown
Bendigo’s Douglas brothers capped career-best seasons with victory in Harness Racing Victoria’s statewide premierships, which concluded with the final meeting of the 2007/08 season at Kilmore last Sunday.
Driver Daryl added the Victorian drivers’ premiership to the swag of accolades he was afforded in a season that saw him set a new Australasian record for the most winners driven in a season, while Glenn picked up the Victorian trainers’ premiership.
All but eight of Daryl’s record 388 winners came in his home state, while Glenn put the polish on 147 Victorian winners for the racing year. While the third-straight year that Daryl has won the drivers’ title, it was the Glenn’s maiden win in the trainers’ division.
The 34-year-old took the honours from the winner of the previous three premierships, Great Western’s Peter Manning, who trained 122 for the season, while Ballarat trainer Peter Tonkin was third on 105 wins.
Daryl, 35, won his title from seven-time winners Gavin Lang and Chris Alford in a season when nine Victorian drivers cracked the century of winners. Lang drove 217 Victorian winners for the 12-month term and Alford 150.
Glenn was thrilled to beat a number of his heroes to claim the training title and paid special tribute to his hard-working team at Strathfieldsaye, in particular dedicated owners Eric and Heather Anderson.
“The guys that we beat, I grew up watching them, thinking how great it would be if I was training alongside them one day, so to beat them for this award is a big thrill,” he said.
“It’s a team effort here and everyone does a great job, so to win the trainers’ award in the same season Daryl won the drivers’ award is very satisfying.”
Lang had to settle for second place in the statewide title, but he didn’t emerge from his career-best season premiership-less, thanks to victory in the metropolitan drivers’ title.
The Melton champion punched home 52 winners in metropolitan penalty events – 11 of them at Group 1 level – to score a 14-win victory over Daryl Douglas with veteran Bendigo reinsman Brian Gath in third spot on 27 wins.
Like his brother, Glenn had to settle for second in the metropolitan trainers’ award. He trained 18 metro winners for the year, four less than Melton horseman Lance Justice, who claimed his second metro title in three years.
In equal third spot were Manning and Andy Gath, who both prepared 17 winners.
The final performance award for 2007/08 was the concession drivers’ title, which saw Nathan Jack prevail in a competitive battle with Greg Sugars.
Both drivers topped the ton in 2007/08 with Shepparton-based Jack finishing with 137 and Melton-based Sugars on 106.
2007/08 Victorian Drivers’ Premiership
|
Daryl Douglas
|
380
|
|
Gavin Lang
|
217
|
|
Chris Alford
|
150
|
|
Kerryn Manning
|
145
|
|
Nathan Jack
|
137
|
2007/08 Victorian Trainers’ Premiership
|
Glenn Douglas
|
147
|
|
Peter Manning
|
122
|
|
Peter Tonkin
|
105
|
|
Graeme Lang
|
91
|
|
Lance Justice
|
86
|
2007/08 Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership
|
Gavin Lang
|
52
|
|
Daryl Douglas
|
38
|
|
Brian Gath
|
27
|
|
Chris Alford
|
24
|
|
Kerryn Manning
|
23
|
2007/08 Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership
|
Lance Justice
|
22
|
|
Glenn Douglas
|
18
|
|
Peter Manning
|
17
|
|
Andy Gath
|
17
|
|
Graeme Lang
|
14
|
2007/08 Concession Drivers’ Premiership
|
Nathan Jack
|
137
|
|
Greg Sugars
|
106
|
|
Leigh Sutton
|
57
|
|
Matthew Craven
|
44
|
|
Nigel Milne
|
41
|
