Suvaljko Father and Daughter Dominate the Country Circuit
It was all about the Suvaljko’s on the country scene over the weekend, with father and daughter Shannon and Emily Suvaljko taking out 12 of the 14 races on offer over the two meetings at Narrogin and Collie.
On Saturday night, bragging rights were with Shannon, with the successful reinsman saluting in four of the seven races on the card. Starting off his night in winning form, Suvaljko piloted three-year-old Sun And Sand to victory for Aldo Cortopassi at long odds, then went on to win race four on board Justlike Turbo for Rob Abercromby, race five with the Matt Scott trained Gee Smith and rounded out the program with the win on The Wildcard for trainer Shane Quadrio.
“I thought the three winners at collie could all win and was confident on Gee Smith and The Wildcard and I gave Justlike Turbo a good chance at Narrogin, but you always think you’ve got a good book but doesn’t usually work out so much.” Shannon Suvaljko said.
Emily Suvaljko drove a double on the card at Narrogin, with the first of her wins coming up in race two with Silver Star Lombo for Shane Quadrio. The win gave the Quadrio stable the first leg of their training double on the night and brought up the fillies fourth win since joining their stable just a few months earlier.
With a few placings under her belt on the night, Suvaljkos second win came up in race six on board the handy three-year-old Rockin Rufus for Nathan Turvey. Rockin Rufus has now made it six wins from 12 starts for the stable and is yet to finish further back than fourth for Turvey.
Emily and Shannon both tied on three wins on the card at Collie, but with both eyeing off the Joe and Margaret Suvaljko feature in race five, there really was no better outcome than a driving quinella for the Family. It was Shannon Suvaljko who came out on top in the race named after his parents, where he partnered the Craig Hynam trained Make It Quick to victory after leading all the way over the 2050m trip from the mobile.
“It was definitely the highlight of my weekend winning my mum and dads race.” Shannon Suvaljko said.
Emily finished just 5.7m behind on Ideal Whitby for Kat Warwick, but Suvaljko was more than happy that if she couldn’t get the win in the race, that her dad was able to come out on top.
“It’s my favourite race every year and one I strive to win. I was able to win it the first-year nanny’s name was put in the memorial race, and it was definitely an amazing yet emotional feeling,”
“I’m glad if I couldn’t win it, that dad could.” Emily Suvaljko said.
The Suvaljko family has a long-standing history in Harness Racing in WA, with the first of the Suvaljkos’, Joseph Snr joining the trotting industry in the 1960’s. Joseph drove a total of 11 winners in his career, but his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. Together with his wife Margaret, the pair had five children, Kathy, Joseph, Shannon, Georgie and Callan. Four out of their five children went on to become drivers, with Joe, Shannon and Callan still driving today, as well as grandchildren Emily, Joseph and Daniel representing the family in the cart.
“I never got the chance to meet grandad Joe, but have heard stories about him,”
“Everyone that came across her (Nanny) loved her and she welcomed everyone as family and cook a feast for an army even though it was only us cousins there for dinner.”
Ashleigh Paikos