Wilkins taking winning feeling to Cambridge tonight

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jordyn Bublitz

Fresh from her first ever New Zealand driving win at Alexandra Park last Friday, Brooke Wilkins is aiming for more success at Cambridge tonight.

The Australian-born links up with the Ival Brownlee-trained Emily Bay in Race 4, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion .Mobile Trot (6.52pm).

“She’s a really consistent little trotter, and she always trots which is her biggest asset,” Wilkins says, “she’s got a good draw and it’s a pretty even race, so hopefully if we find a handy spot, we’ll be thereabouts.”

A four race winner, currently the Majestic Son seven-year-old is at $17 and $3.40 in the market.

Last start winner Loteria is the $2.35 favourite in the Juniors Drivers race for Harrison Orange.

Last Friday Wilkins achieved a career milestone when Alecto took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires Stakes Heat 1 2YOF Mobile Pace, for her employers Mark and Nathan Purdon.

It was the 10th driving success of her career, but the first on Kiwi soil and one she won’t forget in a hurry.

“It was a pretty good feeling to get the monkey off of my back,” Wilkins says, “I’ve come close a few times, so it felt great to finally get that win.”

Drawn ideally from barrier one, Wilkins slotted the daughter of Bettor’s Delight into the trail behind stablemate River before peeling out at the top of the straight. Showing determination and a sharp sprint, Alecto reeled in her rival to score the victory.

“I was quietly confident heading into the race,” Wilkins says, “she had the perfect draw and Mark and Nathan have always had a high opinion of her, so I was confident without getting too silly about it.

“She still had to work for it, when I came out at the top of the straight, I didn’t know if I was going to catch the stablemate, but she got into her work nicely and got the job done.”
 
During her career in Australia, she prepared 39 training winners and notched nine victories in the sulky.

Now she’s keen to keep the winning momentum going.

“Driving wasn’t something I came to New Zealand to do, but now that I’m back out there I just love it.”

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