Diminutive Jasmine Dimovski grabbed the spotlight at Globe Derby Park on Saturday driving her first winner at just her second race drive.
Dimovski, 24, drove a perfect race to bring Rocknroll Spirit to victory in the Ladbrokes Gawler Platinum Cup heat one (1800m).
A week earlier, her friend and co-worker Ella Brechin gained the headlines with a treble less than a month into her training career.
Saturday was the chance for Dimovski to display her talent in the sulky.
With a stature suited for a jockey, Dimovski had Rocknroll Spirit, trained by Brechin, away nicely from gate two and was able to settle three back in the running line with stablemate Bitofdutchcourage finding the front from barrier three.
The cream of SA’s driving talent was opposed but, despite having just her second race drive, she showed amazing composure to drive her own race.
Samantha Hill, on Wattosblazeofglory, was trailing Rocknroll Spirit and tried to make Dimovski come out going into the back straight but she waited and came out when she was ready.
Rocknroll Spirit ($51) extended quickly and loomed up three wide turning for home before going clear in the home straight to win by 1-1/2 metres from Wattosblazeofglory ($51) with Tonkawaikon ($12) a head away third,
It should come as no surprise that it took just two drives for Dimovski to land her first winner.
She came to South Australia from Victoria to complete a university degree in animal welfare and recently passed with honours!
Post-race Dimovski revealed she would shortly be returning home to Geelong to work at a thoroughbred stud.
“I came to Adelaide to complete my degree and was always planning to eventually go home,” Dimovski said.
“I have really enjoyed my time here, but Geelong is my home, and I have the opportunity to further my work career.
“I have always had involvement with horses and had one when I came to Adelaide and settled at Globe Derby Park.
“An opportunity arose to work in a harness stable, and although it was new to me, I jumped at the chance and have had a fantastic two years.
“I am so pleased Ella has had a great start to her training career, but I am leaving to go home.
“I’m not sure what will happen with my driving, but I have loved the training side of harness racing and think I will eventually take out my own licence.”
Dimovski had her third race drive later in the program aboard Night Spirit in the Ladbrokes Big Bets SA Concession Drivers Series Pace (1800m).
She gave it the run of the race behind the leader, but Night Spirit could only finish fifth.
The winner was Buzz Bomb, trained by Paul Cavallaro and driven by Shane Turner.
Turner, 34, is on a second coming in harness racing, and has established himself as a competent reinsman.
From 2011 to 2017, Turner tried to build a career and drove 31 winners but walked away and went into the work force, but the sport was in his blood and last year he eased himself into a mini comeback.
He has driven four winners over the past 12 months, two of which have been on Buzz Bomb, of which he is a part-owner.
Turner’s drive was perfect on Saturday.
Coming from the inside of the second row, he angled one off into the running line as the field found their positions.
Turner came three wide on Buzz Bomb with as lap to go and sent him forward.
Buzz Bomb ($2.80) kept coming and drew away to win by 4-1/2 metres from Malachite Rock ($26, driven by Nick Brown, with Rostova ($2.50 fav), third for Sharni Newman.
On returning post-race, Turner turned to his Mum Robyn and said, “That is your birthday present,” in reference to her 60th celebration on Friday.
Another young person making an impact in harness racing is Kaycee Carey.
Carey, 22, started training in 2022 and already has 30 winners to her name.
Feisty Jane ($9) took her to that number with a last-stride win in the Vale Sandra Hutchinson Pace (2230m) scoring by a head from Royal Watch ($8.50) with Harro Hill ($5), 2-1/2 metres away third.
It was fitting that Carey prepared the winner of the race named after a trailblazer in SA harness racing who was instrumental in allowing females to drive and train.
Apart from preparing her team of two, assisted by stable foreman Dad Damien, Carey also works for the state’s premier trainer Ryan Hryhorec, trying to improve her skills.
