Donna’s ‘Magnificent Seven’

[Wandering Eyes]

Donna Knight enjoyed a morning and afternoon most trainers can only ever dream of at Ballarat on Monday.

Incredibly, Knight, who’s based at the historic gold mining town of Talbot, hit pay dirt, training seven of the 12 winners, including the winners of the first five races.

“I still can’t believe it myself,” Knight said on Monday afternoon.

“I just kept thinking this is unbelievable.

“It didn’t sink in until the last one (Kanji Length). I don’t usually get emotional, but walking back after the race, I shed a few tears.”

The remarkable haul eclipsed Knight’s previous personal best of four winners, also achieved at a Ballarat Monday meeting, on July 25, while she also chalked up three victories twice at Bendigo last week.

Strangely enough, considering the unforgettable outcome, Knight wasn’t overly confident about the 11 runners she took to Monday’s meeting.

“The only one I thought had a good chance was Lala Grapefruit, but in saying that, I don’t really look at the fields,” she admitted.

“I don’t bet, but my partner, Jeab, has $5 each-way on them. But he missed the one that paid $46!

“I was really happy to see Lala Grapefruit win; she’s one of my favourites. She’s won two in town for us, and Roxy Crumpet is Jeab’s dog, he bought it off Tom and George Dailly.

“But the one that probably gave me the biggest thrill was Lala Unity, because I’ve persevered with her, and it was really satisfying to see her win a race. She was our 100^th winner for the year too!”

The seven winners were: Race 1 – Smiling Sapphire ($3.10) – 22.73sec, Race 2 – Lala Unity ($46) – 22.51sec, Race 3 – Roxy Crumpet ($2.20F) – 22.26sec (BOD), Race 4 – Lala Que ($10.60) – 22.63sec, Race 5 – Roxy Eggnog ($2.40F) – 25.66sec (BOD), Race 10 – Lala Grapefruit ($2.30F) – 22.32sec, and Race 11 – Kanji Length ($6.40) – 22.57sec.

A $1 ‘all-up’ bet on the ‘sensational septet’ would have netted a whopping $117,480.86, but Knight was content to celebrate the feat with a “few beers”.

Knight, 42, has been training on and off as a hobby since she was 18, but went full-time in January 2021, and currently has a racing team of 34 in work.

“Not many people get to do a job they love, so I’m really lucky,” Knight said.

“I try to stay humble; you can’t have a big head or be arrogant in this game.

“I’ve got to thank Tom and George Dailly, they’ve been a great support. I wouldn’t have anything without them.

“I’ve also got a big group of friends, we all live near each other, and sit at the same table. They look after their dogs and then help me with mine and they’re the main reason I’m able to do what I do. I couldn’t do it without their help. Friends are what it’s all about.”

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