Katie Howlett and Brought To Light Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
Getting your first win is like nothing else, and on Monday at Pinjarra Katie Howlett experienced that thrill when Brought To Light delivered the pairs first victory.
Lining up from barrier four over the 2185m trip for the two-year-olds, Brought To Light had a late driver change and with Deni Roberts on board the pair went on to win by 5.6m in 2:01:7, giving Howlett the win she has been so close to receiving on a few occasions since making their debut on May 24.
“Absolutely unbelievable, I am shaking, and I can’t stop shaking, I can’t believe it,
“You dream about it from when you’re a little kid, about your first winner and then you start thinking what if he wins a group 1, what if he wins the Inter Dominion, but obviously small steps,
“It feels absolutely amazing, I couldn’t have done it without our stable staff, I don’t actually drive in fast work because I’m having a baby, I’m not allowed to drive him anymore,
“So, Mick Callegari and Lorne Steer, they drive him all the time in fast work for me and without them we wouldn’t be here.”
Purchasing his dam Exposay NZ from New Zealand in the all age sales already in foal with the Bettors Delight USA colt for $17,000, Howlett had to transport the mare over to WA, and after toying with the idea of selling the now two-year-old in the yearlong sales here in the West to recoup some of the costs, it’s now a decision she’s glad she didn’t follow through with.
The ninth foal from the dam, the Howlett family was already familiar with some of her progeny, with the stable racing Love And Kisses NZ; who had 41 starts for five wins 16 placings, and Shadow Magic NZ; who had just the five starts for the stable for two wins and a placing before he retired. Love And Kisses NZ will go in foal this season.
Howlett, who is expecting her first child In December had been contemplating getting her trainers for quite some time but after taking the plunge this season, she has been rewarded with a win and three placings from just five starts.
When asked what made her want to become a trainer, Howlett replied:
“Watching dad for the last 35 years and arguing with him about how he does things all the time and when you grow up in a stable with such strong role models, that’s all you really want to do, it just makes sense,
“Its hard to take that first step to get your licence but once you have it, and you obviously then have to find a horse, I’m lucky enough to have a bit of family support and husband support, I think we spent $17,000 on his mum plus to import her,
“To have that opportunity is fantastic.”
Bettors Delight USA stands for $25,000+ GST, so even at $17,000 for the mare, it was a saving of upwards of $8000 from the get-go.
Howlett currently just has the one in work and a three-year-old who is in the paddock with a few leg issues, who should return to work once Katie has her baby later in the year.
