Trainer Gaita Pullicino with Taylah Schembri after the 16-year-old's first winner as a driver yesterday at Warragul.
Young reinswoman Taylah Schembri landed her first race win at Monday's Warragul trots meeting, and recorded the equal fastest race time ever seen at Warragul in the process.
A dashing front-running drive by Schembri on Longtan Tigerman in the second race produced a mile rate of 1:56.7 for the 1790-metre distance, equalling the time standard set on the Warragul Pacing Bowl back in 1996 for the shorter 1725-metre journey.
Recent redevelopment works on the track make it somewhat faster than it was 20 years ago, however such a fast time is still relatively rare on a smaller circuit such as Warragul, so it will be interesting to see if that mark can be improved over time.
Longtan Tigerman's win took 1.4 seconds off the previous fastest time for 1790 metres set last month when the redeveloped track opened for business.
Schembri, 16, drove Longtan Tigerman for trainer Gaita Pullicino, and it was the horse's first win in almost three years, and sixth win all up for the much improved eight-year-old.
Overall the women enjoyed a great day at Warragul on Monday, sharing in seven of the eight winners as either trainer or driver.
Cranbourne horsewoman Jayne Davies prepared two winners - Gonski and Mister Clooney, while Pearcedale reinswoman Simone Walker scored a narrow win with Stoned Again in an exciting Trotters Handicap.
Kate Gath drove the roan filly Looks Like Heaven to win the third race while Jodi Quinlan produced the second track record of the day when Intergalactic came from well back in the field to win the fifth event.
Avalon trainer Amanda Grieve wrapped up a great day for the females when Wilusi Blues won the last event, the second leg of a driving double for reinsman Chris Alford.
Lightly raced Montu won the sixth event for father son combination Ross and Greg Sugars.
Racing returns to Warragul on Monday, February 9.
Meanwhile, Warragul Harness Racing Club committeeman Don Walters passed away on the weekend after battling ill health in recent months.
Don was based in the Latrobe Valley, and had been involved on the Warragul committee for two years, while also being actively involved in several other community organisations in the Latrobe Valley.
