North-west young stars heading for Inter Dom
IT will be a long trip south to contest the running of the 2022 Mini Trot Inter Dominion at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night for four Tamworth youngsters.
It will be girl power all the way and a determination to return home with some trophies while representing their state of NSW for Morgan Coney, Reba Brown, Rylee Kiddle and Mia McMillan.
For Tamworth Regional Mini Trots President Dwayne Brown, it is certainly a proud moment for him and his club.
“The kids do a great job with their ponies,” he said.
“They have to train them each day to make sure they have match fitness as well as looking after the feeding and grooming of their horses.
“And all these young girls know how to be competitive on the track.”
The club has thrown their support behind firstly 12-year-old Morgan Coney, who will be competing in the Midget division with her pony Bullit Proof.
Coney is the younger sister of the north west’s leading reinswoman Jemma Coney, who only this week landed her 100th career winner when successful at the Tamworth meeting.
Rylee Kiddle is 13 years of age and will race Mr Rocket Fuel in the Shetland division.
Carrying the title of “Champion of Champions” Rylee will be using all her skills to pick up an Inter Dominion title.
Kiddle gained the title – Champion of Champions- at the State Mini Trot Championships hosted at Tamworth in April with some successful wins.
Younger cousin, Reba Brown, at age 10, will take the reins behind the old family faithful Mr Fantangles in the Pony division.
Mr Fantangles won an Inter Dominion Final at Tabcorp Park Menangle last year when driven by Reba’s older brother Tanner.
Reba’s older brothers Rory and Scotty-Jon also enjoyed wins with Mr Fantangles with the little pony joining the Brown family in 2010.
Both Rory and Scotty-Jon are enjoying their time in both the training and driving ranks at registered meetings after learning skills in the mini trots with Rory driving winners and Scotty-Jon training 27 winners and having 34 winning drives.
The cheers will be very loud trackside from the Brown family for Mr Fantangles, the family favourite.
Mia McMillan will be driving Velvets Little Star also in the Pony division and is fresh off winning this year’s Miracle Mile for the mini trotters behind Lumberjack Willie at Menangle.
“It is a great discipline for the younger kids and it is a great grounding for when the kids graduate to the diving ranks,” said Brown.
“At the moment we have the likes of Tom Ison, Jack Chapple and Jemma Coney, just to name three who have graduated from the mini trots and are all enjoying success.”
Dwayne Brown will also be officiating at the Inter Dominion Finals for the mini trots.
“It is a family sport for sure,” he said.
“As parents we act as Judges, timekeepers, starters and mentors for the kids and it is great to see them proud of their achievements on the track.
“Let’s hope we bring home some trophies.”
The four north west ladies will be joined by Sydney representatives 14-year-old George Lee driving Sir Eric and Mason Bigeni at 12 years of age driving Flash, who will make up the six NSW representatives.
- JULIE MAUGHAN
