Premier driver equals Australian record

PREMIER driver Kate Gath equalled an Australian record in Ballarat last night.

Gath won five of the 10 races, including the first four, to register her second quintet.

Gath’s first ‘bag of five’ came in Port Pirie March 19, 2016.

What made this haul different is all of Gath’s win were metropolitan front.

Her previous quintet was during a country-front meeting.

As such, Gath joins Kerryn Manning as the only reinswomen to win five city class races on a card.

Manning has achieved the feat three times, the first coming at Moonee Valley on August 25, 2001.

Manning repeated the dose at ‘The Valley’ on September 22, 2001 and December 4, 2003.

Dani Hill leads the way among the females with 13 quintets, followed by Manning with 12.

The elite sorority of quintet reinswomen includes Trista Dixon, Jodi Quinlan, Natalie Rasmussen, Ellen Tormey, Lauren Tritton, Amanda Turnbull, Julie Weidemann and Lola Weidemann.

As for Gath’s latest effort, she was triumphant with Zigzagzoo, Mister Fortunia, Fynn Front, Tango Tar and Nikki Louise.

The first four are prepared by Gath’s husband, Andy, with Emma Stewart training Nikki Louise.

“It was a special night,” Gath said. “I’ve driven five winners at a meeting before, but to do so in all metropolitan races is different.

“It just adds a little to the occasion.

“I gave each of them a strong chance, they just needed things to go right, which they did.”