6 year old Jason Kittel gives his first race interview to Marcus Hearle after winning the Kapunda Shetland Pony Cup Photo by D.Aldred
Sporting a huge smile and brim full of confidence, South Australia’s youngest reinsman six-year-old Jason Kittel celebrated his first feature race victory at Kapunda on Sunday winning the Kapunda Shetland Pony Trotting Cup.
With less than three months of race experience under his belt, Jason partnered his shetland pony Ben Ten to the Cup victory. Even steady showery rain falling through the race could not dampen the enthusiasm of the young driver.
Usually very shy when it comes to public speaking, Jason gave his first racing interview to Kapunda committeeman Marcus Hearle.
“I’ve been getting a lot of seconds but now I am coming first, I have two wins,” he said.
Kapunda has quickly become the youngster’s favourite racetrack. Jason captured his first victory driving Ben Ten to an all-the-way win at Kapunda last month.
South Australian Harness Racing Pony Association president Julie Billinger said the son of trainer/driver Symon Kittel and Melanie Kittel-Seal is a real character who likes to ‘star gaze’ at the crowd when he comes down the home straight.
“He is always with the field until he hits the straight and sights the people cheering, and then he gets distracted by the crowd,” she said.
Jason has two ponies, Grease Lightning and Ben Ten and he is a regular racegoer.
Ben Ten the pony is named after his favourite TV show, Ben Ten Alien Force.
His Pony Association profile already says his proudest and most thrilling moment in racing was “driving my first race winner.” The Kapunda Shetland Cup win yesterday may have eclipsed that moment though.
His dad’s horse, the smart pacer Boom Land is his favourite racehorse and dad Symon is his favourite harness driver.
Jason said that his uncles, also harness racers, Josh and Jeremy Seal are his most admired people in racing.
Look out for Jason in his Yellow, Purple Braces and White Armband silks next time you’re at Globe Derby and give the tiny tot a cheers as he goes past the post.
