by Graham Fischer
Talented concession reinswoman Megan Gee had her best night in the sulky at Globe Derby Park last Friday night landing three winners.
Gee was successful on Blackntan ($2.60 eq. fav.), Puddinhead ($16.10) and Muscle Hillbilly ($10.70).
Her first winner is owned and trained by John Hill, while the other two come from the stable of Jill Neilson.
“It was a great night,” Gee said, “the three all raced up to their ability.”
“When I went to the track I thought they all had a chance, if they did their best, but history has shown they all have their quirks.”
Blackntan was well backed in the opening race, the Schweppes Australia Pace (1800m) and Gee had the five-year-old away well from gate three to sit parked in the early stages.
“He trialled well on the previous Sunday and I thought it was important to be prominent to control the tempo and he was on the top of his game.”
Blackntan scored by 2-1/2 metres from Picturebook ($32.50) with Genuine Excuse ($16.20), 9-1/2 metres away third.
Gee owns Puddinhead and while she loves the seven-year-old is the first to admit he has a mind of his own.
“I always wonder which Puddinhead will turn up,” she said. “If he has his mind on the job he is always a chance and even in a race he can suddenly switch off.”
On Friday, Gee had Puddinhead away well from gate nine to obtain a one-one trail early in the Ubet Pace (1800m) before dashing clear off the back to score by 3-1/2 metres from Night In Berlin ($4.70) with Markleigh Fireball ($13.10), 1-1/2 metres away third.
While he might be a bit quirky, Puddinhead has won nine races and earned more than $37,000 in stakes.
The horse which excites Gee, and trainer Jill Neilson, is the two-year-old trotter Muscle Hillbilly who brought up her the driving treble in the Just Wrecking Toyota’s Two-Year-Old Trotters Handicap (1800m).
At his previous two starts, Muscle Hillbilly had, through inexperience, broke in running but on Friday night he showed he was a quick learner trotting away safely and going to the front and giving nothing a chance.
The colt scored by 44-1/2 metres from Reils ($1.60 fav), with Majestically ($27.80), a half-head away third.
“At home, he trots well but both times at the races he has made mistakes,” Gee said.
“It was partly my fault last time but tonight he was right on his game.
“I kept talking to him throughout to keep him feeling comfortable. I’m sure he has a good future.”
For Gee, it has been a somewhat later introduction to harness racing.
Despite her father Geoffrey being a trainer-driver for about 50 years, she had taken no interest in the sport as a youngster and didn’t drive a horse until 2012.
“I actually went to Queensland to become an apprentice jockey but that didn’t work out so I decided to come home and it was only then I had my first drive,” Gee said.
“After riding trackwork, then driving, I found the difference in speed unusual but quickly learnt there were many, many differences in driving rather than riding.
Gee works for top trainer Jill Neilson and is highly regarded for her work with young, or wayward, horses.
Once horse which Gee helped turned around was the former good trotter Chuck Wagon which she turned from a talented, but unruly, trotter to a very consistent performer.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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