Pulled the right rein

SHE didn’t even sit in the cart, but prominent horsewoman Sonya Smith ‘pulled the right rein’ during the weekend.

With her regular driver – fiancé Anthony Butt – in New Zealand and his deputy Zac Phillips a late scratching, Smith was left in a frantic search for a last minute replacement.

Having only one person in mind, Smith gave the formguide a quick perusal before to see if the desired replacement was available and then made the call.

“After Zac told me he couldn’t make it, there was only one name I had in mind,” Smith said. “So I checked the fields and asked Kerryn (Manning) if she would drive for me.”

To Smith’s joy, Manning was not only willing to partner Shes A Hovercraft, she drove the mare to victory at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Able to follow through from the second line, Shes A Hovercraft gained the run of the race behind Madam Reactor, which led from the pole.

Finishing along the sprint lane, the daughter of Night Of The Stars found the front in the shadows of the post to score by a half-head from Pray Tell, which was gallant after racing in the ‘death seat’.

Speed Dating was five-and-a-half metres away third.

Rating 1:54.7 over 1720 metres, Shes A Hovercraft took her record to two wins and a pair of seconds from nine starts since joining Smith’s stable.

“What a great drive from Kerryn,” Smith said. “She doesn’t normally show some toe out of the gate, but Kerryn got her going to keep the back of the leader.

“She does have a terrific turn of foot when coming off the speed, which Kerryn put to good used.

“I can’t thank Kerryn enough for stepping in and bringing home the win…I may even sack Anthony!”