Big day for Kate Coppins at Tauherenikau

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Junior driver Kate Coppins finds herself in an unusual position at the Wairarapa Harness Racing Club’s short and sharp dual code meeting at Tauherenikau on Friday.

All four of her drives on the four-race programme are on heavily-favoured runners for Michael House.

“I am very excited for it,” she says, “Micky always has all his horses on point.”

Her drives will be Koko Kaboom (R1), Big Gee (R2), Million Dollar Chic (R3) and Goorambat Art (R4).

Both Koko Kaboom and Million Dollar Chic back up after unplaced efforts at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve. 

“Koko Kaboom, I’ve had a good combination with him, and had a win and third with him, he’s a lovely horse.”

“The 50 metre mark is a bit of a push over 2000 but if I step and get handy he’ll be there at the finish.”

Million Dollar Chic is the shortest priced favourite of her four drives at $1.85.

“Going onto the grass will be a big help and she’s racing pretty consistently.”

Big Gee is a newcomer to the House stable, with a career record of no placings from 12 starts but Coppins is confident he can turn that around.

“I’ve watched some of his videos and he has ability and some potential.”

Her final drive will be Goorambat Art, who’s drawn one the second row. 

“He’s a good boy, he’s been racing very consistent.”

In 2025 Coppins had four of her 19 wins for the House stable. She has 22 wins overall. 

She started driving for the stable after first getting to know the Houses through Kidz Kartz.

“Wilson and I represented New Zealand in Australia,” Coppins says. 

And Coppins was delighted to see Wilson cap off a brilliant 2025 by winning the Junior Drivers premiership for the first time.

“I was bloody happy for him – he’s a great guy.”

While Coppins is driving at Tauherenikau, Wilson House will have six drives at Friday’s Central Otago Trotting Club’s meeting at Omakau. 

Employed full-time at Arna Donnelly’s Cambridge stables Coppins  has a target for 2026.

“I’d like to get to 50 career wins by the end of the year.”

Judging from her book of drives on Friday she could get off to a cracking start.

To see the Tauherenikau fields click here 

 

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