Having brought her passion for the montes half-way across the world the category has rewarded Kima Frenning with a ticket back.
The Swedish-born trots rider and driver was rewarded for winning the Aldebaran Park Monte Championship with a return ticket to Europe, which she plans to use to attend Sweden’s famed Elitloppet and visit family.
“It is good to get a reward for all of your hard work,” Frenning said.
Based at trainer David Aiken’s Avenel stable, Frenning amassed 39 points in the championship to win by three from Haley Toulmin, with Ben Aubron (27 points) and Warren Cochrane (23 points) next best.
“I was hoping to be top three and was happy to have won and am really appreciative of the horses that trainers have let me drive,” Frenning said. “I love the montes and think they are such a good thing for the horses.”
From 21 starts she produced seven wins and as many placings, enjoying most success with Alison Alford-trainer trotter Miracle, who she rode in five starts in the 2015-16 season for three wins, one second and one third.
Among those wins was in the Thompson Timber Saddlery and Grain Maffra Monte on Maryborough’s Redwood Classic day, an “amazing” highlight of Frenning’s season, while another unforgettable day in the saddle came on October 23.
“One of the absolute highlights was with My High Expectations, who is one of my favourite horses, and he had been off the winners’ list for such a long time and so see him back on there was great,” she said.
My High Expectations’ victory, the then eight-year-old’s first in more than 12 months, preceded a second monte win less than a month later and was another example of a horse being reinvigorated by racing under saddle.
“It is not for every horse, but it definitely suits some of them,” Frenning said. “There is a lot of improvement still to come in the montes, but it is definitely changing. More trainers are willing to try their horses in montes and when they actually see that it works it encourages more to try it out.”
The 2016-17 season got underway on September 1 and on day one the first Aldebaran Park Monte of the new season was held, when Warrnambool’s Nina Ullestad won on Idle Suntime, producing the first victory of her young career.
Aiken was the most successful trainer in the 2015-16 Aldebaran Park monte series, having training six winners, one more than second-placed Graham McDermott with Alford third with four wins.
FINAL STANDINGS:
Aldebaran Park Monte Championship: Kima Frenning 39 points, Haley Toulmin 36, Ben Aubron 27, Warren Cochrane 23, Emma Hamblin 11, Jackie Barker 11, Paul Hamblin 11, Malin Hammarskjold 10, Kylee Paull 10, Nina Ullestad 2, Michael Quadara 1, Maree Campbell 1.
Leading monte trainers: David Aiken 6 wins, Graham McDermott 5, Alison Alford 4, Matthew Craven 3, Craig Demmler 2, Glenn Sharp 2, Simone Walker 2, Dean Braun 2, Margaret Davies 1.
Leading monte horses: Miracle 3 wins, Majestic Ess Jay 3, Cold Crusher 2, Gidah 2, Lightning Calder 2, My High Expectations 2, Star Gun 2, Stoned I Am 2, Cold Sister 1, Heza Boy Star 1, Unico Crown 1, Valley Ess Jay 1, Waikare Aviator 1, Dabbsey 1, Empire Earl 1, Boundary Row 1.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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