Big Bendigo boost to Team Teal

TEAM Teal reigned supreme at Bendigo’s Lord’s Raceway last Friday.

Victoria’s female drivers clocked up another four valuable wins as part of the harness racing industry’s fundraiser for ovarian and gynaecological cancer support and research.

The annual campaign also aims to create awareness about ovarian cancer.

It is driven by Victorian harness racing Hall of Fame inductee Duncan McPherson OAM, who lost his wife Lyn to ovarian cancer in 2010.

Money is raised every time a female driver, competing in her teal pants, wins a race, with Harness Racing Victoria tipping in $200 per win.

The fundraising is boosted by contributions from individual harness racing clubs, sponsors and other fundraising activities.

With the Bendigo Harness Racing Club designating two of the eight races on the program as all-female driver races, the Team Teal coffers were bound to receive a boost.

But a total of four wins by female drivers was bliss for all involved.

Young driver Tasmyn Potter got the ball rolling in the opening race with her victory aboard Vincheska in the first of the all-female races.

 

Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey was next to strike in race two on Chogi, with the pacing mare trained by her father John Tormey.

Lisa Miles kept the tally ticking over by taking out the second of the all-female races on the Steve Cleave-trained mare Divine Tilly in race four, before Shepparton’s Abbey Turnbull struck on Intrusion, trained by her father Craig Turnbull.

For Miles, a multiple Group 1 winning trainer and driver, her win in the second of the all-female driver races extended her proud record of having driven at least one winner in all 12 years the Team Teal campaign has been running.

With more than $3.4 million having been raised for ovarian and gynaecological cancer support and research ahead of this year’s Team Teal period, which runs from February 1 to March 15, Miles is proud of how the campaign has grown.

“I was at the original launch (in 2014) with Duncan McPherson many, many years ago, and every year I have been fortunate enough to drive at least one winner with the teal pants on,” she said.

“It’s important and the fact that it’s gone not only Australia-wide, but is gathering momentum worldwide, makes it massive.

“What Duncan McPherson has done in memory of his late wife is amazing.”

Miles, who trains a team of 10 horses at Darraweit Guim in the Macedon Ranges Shire, said Team Teal was a cause that resonated deeply with many people.

“I haven’t been affected, but close friends have … and their mums and families,” she said.

“Of course it doesn’t just affect the ladies, it affects their families and sons and husbands.

“While we are wearing the teal pants, we are representing everyone and not just the ladies that it affects.”

With Lord’s Raceway transformed into a sea of teal both on and off the track, Miles lauded the Bendigo Harness Racing Club for being one of the ‘biggest’ supporters of Team Teal each year.

That dedication was evident by the scheduling of a pair of all-female races.

“They are pretty competitive races,” Miles said.

“We are very fortunate in Victoria that we have a massive female group that drives.

“And an absolutely talented group … some very tough competitors. But it’s a lot of fun.

“Having two lady drivers is massive

“But even off the track (on Friday), upstairs was filled with team coloured balloons.

“They’ve gone the whole 100 per cent.”

In Victoria last year, 18 female drivers contributed at least one win to an overall tally, with champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning leading the charge with 11, ahead of Kate Gath (10) and Tormey (nine).

Team Teal founder McPherson is fond of saying that drivers never forget their first winner in teal pants.

But whether they be first-timers or experienced hands, Miles detects an intense desire among the female driving ranks to get on the board at Team Teal time.

“It’s not only the teal, but when you are wearing the pink pants for breast cancer awareness, and I’m sure for the fellows when they don the blue silks for prostate cancer,” she said.

“It does have an impact on you.

“I don’t think we ever try any less, but it is probably that little more rewarding because it makes a difference to someone else, not just yourself.”