A Treble for Suvaljko And Her Boys at Northam
Aaron, Joseph and Sarah Suvaljko after Lil Delight’s win. Photo Credit – Northam Harness Racing Club
Sarah Suvaljko is no stranger to a winning treble at the trots, but Friday night was a first for the mum of three, with all three winners on the night driven by her boys, Joseph and Daniel Suvaljko.
The first of Suvaljko’s winners came up in race 2 with five-year-old mare Fifo getting the cash at $10 odds. Driven by her eldest, Joseph, the seasoned pacer lined up from barrier five over the 2620m trip and after settling at the tail of the field, Suvaljko made his way three-wide with around 400m to go, claiming a narrow win in 2:06:7.
Making it a race-to-race double, Classnsmart was on his best behaviour on Friday night, and after being crossed at the start from barrier one, he settled behind the leader throughout to come out on top where it mattered most, taking out race three by 8.9m for driver Daniel Suvaljko. In a winning mile rate of 2:01:2 over the 2190m, the four-year-old brought up his second career win in what has been undoubtedly his best season to date.
Joseph Suvaljko got the steer on Lil Delight in the last, with the $2.10 favourite bringing up her second win in her 48-start career. Breaking her maiden status earlier in the season, the four-year-old started from barrier seven in race nine, and after settling behind the leader throughout, Suvaljko peeled off the leaders back with around 500m to go, claiming the narrow victory in 2:03:4 over the 1780m sprint trip.
It wouldn’t be an easy task as a mother, choosing which son gets the drive, but it is a challenge that Sarah is faced with most weeks.
“Joseph thinks Daniel is the favourite, Daniel thinks Joseph is the favourite, wait until Aaron starts driving, then everyone will know who the favourite is, or if I even have one.” She joked.
“I try to be fair and keep it even, but that doesn’t always work. I say whoever does the work gets the drive but that doesn’t work because they both either do nothing or both help.”
“Certain horses suit certain drivers. Fifo is Joseph’s favourite horse and she’s little, so appreciates the smaller driver.”
“Classnsmart is a real handful and Daniel has done 80% of the work on him,”
“Joseph is quiet and has soft hands, so horses travel well and respond to him.”
“Daniel has a great feel, reads a horse really well and is great with knowing the form going into the races.”
Daniel and Sarah Suvaljko with Classnsmart after their win. Photo credit- Northam Harness Racing Club
Cullen Star took out the opener for trainer/driver Michael Blakemore at start two this season after a lengthy spell at the end of 2021. The three-year-old by Follow The Stars came from behind to claim his second win for the stable, recording a winning mile rate of 2:00:0 over the 1780m.
Donald Harper had a good night out, with the 34-year-old trainer/driver taking out race four with his runner Per Ardua Ad Astra. Lining up from barrier four over the 1780m, the four-year old settled who was initially on the fence, pushed off just before the bell to be in the one-one position, with Harper making his move 200m from home and going on to win by 6.1m in 1:59:0. Later in the night at Gloucester Park, Harper trained the winner of the last on the card, with two-year-old Quartzz making it two from two.
After settling last in the field of 10, Silent Reaction made his run three wide with just under a lap to go to make it two in a row for Hayden Reeves. Driven by Trent Wheeler, the $4.80 shot sailed home to win comfortably by 23m in 1:58:7 over the 2190m journey, with the gelding bringing up his fifth career victory in 35 starts.
Sonia Zucchiatti and Corey Peterson joined forces in race six, with American Bullitt kicking away to win by 21.5m in 1:58:6 over the 2190m. Breaking a 12-start losing sequence, the four-year-old who had been racing in metropolitan company appreciated the drop in class, coming from behind to win with ease, bringing up the geldings eighth career victory in 61 starts for the stable.
Starting off the back marker in the standing start, Texas Tara NZ was able to overcome the 70m handicap over the 2150m trip to take out race seven with a winning mile rate of 2:00:0. Trained by Luke Edwards and driven by Isaac Edwards, Edwards made his run three wide from the bell, and even after finding himself four wide on the final turn, he was able to find plenty, going on to win by 3m.
It’s been a long time between drinks for Colin Reeves, but on Friday night he got his driving pants out of retirement when he took the drive onboard his son’s horse, I See Fire. The 17-start maiden had placed just the three times in his career but on Friday night he was able to find the front soon after release point, going on to win by 1.5m over Hayden Reeves’ other runners Zalias Champion and Kamendable Galaxy, giving Reeves the race trifecta in a modest 2:06:2 over the 2190m.
Ashleigh Paikos