Top South Australian reinsman Wayne Hill has had a breakout season reaching 100 wins for the first time.
Driving Bit Of Reality, trained by his father Gary, Hill reached 100 wins at Mildura on Wednesday, June 29.
He had driven 95 winners in South Australia and Bit of Reality was his fifth in Victoria. He went on to 101 later in the meeting on Candy Crush trained by Cheryl Herman.
Now Hill is hoping to make 100 wins in South Australia and that would appear a formality after he made it 97 victories with a double on Antaeus Blue Chip and Alto Cumulus at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
Included in the 100 wins was an Australian record-equalling six wins at a meeting which he achieved at Victor Harbor on Monday, December 28 last year.
Hill was the 18th Australian driver to achieve the effort including Victorian champion Kerryn Manning who has done it three times.
He is the third South Australian joining Geoff Webster (Monday, December 15, 2003) and David Harding (Saturday, February 18, 2006).
Hill’s winners were Windburnt ($6.80 for Jill Neilson), Machtwister ($22.20 for Andrew Kearney), Queen of Sharkz ($5.60 for Tyson Linke), Silver Ranger ($2.60 for Andrew Kearney), Danamite Lass ($10.50 for Wayne Hornhardt) and Wills ($4.80 for Wayne Brodie). A $1-win investment, all up on Hill’s winners would have returned $110,780.
“Getting to 100 wins was my goal when I went past by previous season-best of 78,” Hill said.
“As a freelance driver it was going to be tough to reach 100 in South Australia and I would like to thank the owners and trainers who support me – it has been a great season.”
With just under two months of the season left, Hill could finish the season around the 120 mark. He has been a regular in the top 10 on the South Australian premierships for more than a decade but this season has him a clear third behind his sister Danielle Hill and Ryan Hryhorec.
Danielle Hill is also having a career-best season with 176 wins coming into this week and she must have a chance of reaching 200 wins for the first time.
At the time of writing, Danielle Hill was sitting fourth on the top 20 drivers in Australia, while Wayne Hill, with his Saturday night double, snuck in a 20.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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