The pony trots in WA is starting to ramp up once again, and on Friday, April 25, 16 young hopefuls took to the centre stage at Gloucester Park, hoping for Nullarbor night success on the pint size racers.
With record numbers in recent times, the ponies had to be split in height categories, with the 10.2hh and under ponies racing first on the night, with Northam trotter Rain Dancer taking out the small division Bruce Avery Transport Nullarbor for Charli Avard.
Charli doesn’t come from a harness racing background but is a rider and driver, with her pony Rain Dancer a state champion carriage pony who has competed in many competitions around the state.
Race one had a field of seven assembled with plenty of recognisable names going around including Harper brothers Logan and Harvey Harper.
In their first season of pony trots, they’ve already experienced plenty of success, with wins at both Pinjarra and Northam on numerous occasions, and both look like they may give their dad, Donald, a run for his money when they upgrade to the full-size trotters.
Finishing in third and fourth placing, Harvey Harper beat his brother narrowly in the placing on board Let Loose The Goose, last years Nullarbor winner, with Imthemightymiddy finishing in fourth placing for Logan.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Willow Pope made her pony trot debut this season and Friday night at Gloucester Park was a first for the nine-year-old.
Willow took out the Pinjarra Pony Trot Cup in March on board trusty steed Pain Inthecaviar, the perfect beginners pony trotter.
Coming from thoroughbred racing background, Brett Pope did Pony Trots for around four years before he was old enough to get his trackwork licence.
Eight-year-old Zoe Pearce finished in second placing on Friday night in the small ponies Nullarbor with her small but speedy, Storm In A Teacup.
Also in her first season of pony trots, Stormy has been far from an easy drive at times, but the pair went around like seasoned professionals on Friday night, with Zoe slipping in a friendly wave to the crowd as she cruised up the home straight.
Race two, the large ponies Nullarbor sponsored by South West Pony Trots went the way of eight-year-old Daniel Worthington on board GP Peter Pan.
The youngest in the field, Daniel has been working very hard with his pony Peter, who has shown at times he’s far from an easy drive for the young reinsman, but he was a true professional on the night when he stayed in his gait the entire trip, sailing home for a comfortable win in the feature.
There aren’t many as dedicated as Jemma Collins and Sam Dawe who made the trip all the way from Albany, with Sam finishing in second placing on his incredible pony, Brimfield Riley.
An accomplished show pony, he made the switch to harness pony in recent years and has been nothing but perfect, winning and placing on a regular basis throughout the Albany season in 2024/2025.
Another Suvaljko is making their way through the ranks, with Lucas Suvaljko looking like the next one to make his mark on the harness racing industry here in WA.
Lucas, 13, still has three years left of pony trots, and partnered with his pony Limehill Amabel, who belonged to his sister Emily throughout her pony trot career, the pair have taken out many cups over the years, including the Bunbury Cup in recent weeks on Saturday, March 29.
Reeves siblings Maisie and Tommy are the third generation to enter the harness racing scene, with nine-year-old Maisie in her second season of pony trots, and Tommy, at just 7 in his first, as well as currently being the youngest pony trot driver in WA.
Racing in separation divisions on the night, Tommy Reeves recently acquired seasoned professional, Mrs Bucket, who finished in fifth placing in the first pony trot.
Maisie Reeves drove 21-year-old Where Are My Sheep in the large pony division, finishing in fourth placing, narrowly missing out on third behind Limehill Amabel.
Where Are My Sheep is in her first season of racing after a very successful show horse career, taking out the Busselton Cup earlier in the year for Tommy Reeves.
Pony Trots in WA has experienced an influx of new young drivers but are incredibly lucky to have seasoned drivers like Brooke Strachan (Clemens), who is a fifth generation in the industry.
Brooke joined the South West Pony Trots in 2018 at the age of eight and drove her first winner at Busselton in November 2018.
She has taken out the Harvey Cup four times, which is now run at Busselton throughout their seasonal card.
Mikayla Vlemmix is the most senior pony trot driver currently going around at just 14-years-old, partnering with her speedy pony Prancing Princess who definitely lives up to her name.
Making her debut when she was just seven years old,, she is a fourth generation in harness racing and hopes to continue on and gain her reins-persons licence when she is old enough.
Tori Elliott recently took the reins on Limehill Amy Rose and although the pair missed the placings on Friday night, you couldn’t wipe the smile off Tori’s face on the night, with the 11-year-old proud as punch that her often fractious pony stayed in her gait.
At just 11-years-old, Elliott is the third and final of the Elliott siblings to go through pony trots, with brother Liam Elliott exchanging ponies for big horses just a few years ago, claiming Albany Cup success in early 2025.
Jhett Hunter graduated off Mrs Bucket earlier this year and upgraded his drive (in size only) to Limehill Glory, with the pair finishing in fifth place in the nine-pony field.
Equestrian sisters Ellie and Ruby Gilberd made their pony trot debut in late 2024 at Pinjarra, with Ellie sadly aging out this year.
Ellie was on board first timer Red Hot Rosie who was having her first race with a child driver on board, with the four-year-old pony showing off what a super pony she’s going to be in years to come, finishing in fifth in the small pony Nullarbor.
Ruby Gilberd still has plenty of years left in her pony trot career and on Friday night she teamed up with seven-year-old gelding Bellas Dream, finishing in sixth place in the second pony trot race.
The sisters arrived home late Thursday evening, just in time for Gloucester Park the next day, after competing at the Australian Mounted Games National Championship in NSW.
These incredible group of kids not only show plenty of smarts on the track but on Friday night, they encouraged and congratulated each other, showing off exactly what pony trots is about.