In Brief
- Gangell lands first training win.
- Trainer credits Troy McDonald, and Eric Jacobson for there help.
- Kyle Pratten has a night out in the sulky.
Brighton based horsewoman Samantha Gangell notched up her first win as a trainer when Navua Pixie scored in the Kelly’s Waste Management Sweepstakes in Burnie last night.
Gangell who has been a regular in the winners stall as a driver over the past four years recently decided to take up training four-months ago where she trains a small team alongside her partner and fellow driver Troy McDonald.
While it was Gangell’s first training win it was also the first win for the four-year-old mare who was first-up since June.
“She was first up for about eight months, I had given her three trials to make sure she was spot on,” said trainer-driver Samantha Gangell after the race.
Gangell had two runners in the race including Nikks Pick who was driven by her partner Troy McDonald, but their chances were made hard after some solid early sectionals after holding the lead in the early stages.
“I didn’t expect there to be that much speed early which buggered my other horse in the race (Nikks Pick), but it worked out good for me who settled back in the field,” added Gangell.
Samantha Gangell (Right) and Troy McDonald (Left) with Navua Pixie after las night’s win.
After leading up the three wide line over the final lap and three-quarters of the race, Navua Pixie dashed away late to score by five-metres over La Toison Dor with Penstock Boy a further five metres away third.
Navua Pixie had the race won at the top of the home straight which gave Gangell time to enjoy the moment of her first training win.
“I was so excited, I started crying near the line, I wasn’t expecting her to win as well as she did as I had to race wide for the final thousand metres,” explained the winning trainer-driver.
Gangell has six horses in her care, which is a sufficient number for her while she is in her second last year of studying Psychology Science at university.
Her partner Troy McDonald and step-father Eric Jacobson are a big help to let her juggle her uni, training and driving commitments.
“Troy does a good job when I have to go to Uni, he is always there doing the horses,” she said.
“Eric lets me have his horses at his property and has been a big help to me to get started, the cost of setting up hasn’t been as high as other young trainers would face if it wasn’t for his help,” added Gangell.
It was a real family affair with her mother, Denise, owning Navua Pixie.
Leading trainer Ben Yole once again dominated the program with five winners across the seven races with Kyle Pratten registering a driving treble.
Yole has now prepared 102 winners in Tasmania alone this season and currently sits on 799 training wins in his career.
Watch Navua Pixie take out the Kelly’s Waste Management Sweepstakes: