Hackett ok after Alexandra Park heroics

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Top junior driver Crystal Hackett is nursing a few bumps and bruises but is otherwise ok after an eventful and scary time at Alexandra Park last night.

She had just won Race 8 with debutant Buddy Guy at the park and was returning to the stabling area when the two-year-old got spooked. 

Hackett was tipped from the sulky and got dragged along the infield.     

“It was a good distance and it was at a good clip,” Hackett says, “it certainly felt we were going quick.”

“I was just lucky I had a good grip on the inside rein and I could slow him down.”

Buddy Guy was clearly agitated by the whole experience and there were a few anxious moments all round before the situation was brought under control. 

It was gutsy and courageous stuff by Hackett.

“I’ve got a few bruises this morning mainly to my wrist and hip and lower back.”

“I’ve watched the video a few times and it just gets better the more times you watch it,” she laughs. 

To see the video click here 

Remarkably Hackett fronted up in the very next race at Alexandra Park, winning with Maro Mackendon for her parents Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.

It’s not the first time Hackett has been involved in such an incident. It also happened at Hawera in January.

“It was in a race and I was kicked out and it was the same thing – I just held on for dear life!”

Then at Cambridge in March a bit holding the reins on her runner Herb snapped leaving her with no control.

“I was just a passenger,” she said at the time.

On that occasion the Clerk of the Course came to her rescue without incident.

“It’s been an eventful year that’s for sure,” says Hackett, “but these things can happen and you just press on.”

And that’s what Hackett is doing. She was back at work this morning though feeling a little bit worse for wear.

 

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