WA reinsman Kyle Symington has nailed his first victory at his new United States base … and sent Ikea’s Innaloo outlet into raptures in the process.
As Symington drove Stay Grounded to his maiden victory at Meadlowlands – at just his second meeting since moving to the US – his former Perth boss Ryan Bell admitted to screaming wildly during an Ikea shopping trip with his fiancée Tiffany … and not because of the thought of having to assemble his flat packs when he got home.
“We were watching it in Ikea and people were looking at us like, what the hell,” Bell said.
“We were going a bit crazy in there, but it was a real good, tactical drive and he deserves it. I hope he gets many more as he’s always been so dedicated to succeeding and I can’t see why he wouldn’t over there.”
Symington came from behind to shoot Stay Grounded to the lead in the home straight and claimed a comfortable first victory at the generous odds of $14.40 for trainer Noel Daley – who was originally from Queensland’s Mount Isa and has become one of America’s greatest harness racing trainers.
Daley offered a job earlier this year to Symington, who had worked for the training great for a month during a holiday in the US.
The emerging 23-year-old star, who represented WA at last year’s Australasian Young Drivers' Championship in NSW, drove 333 winners – including Miss Limelight in the 2022 Group 1 Mares Classic at Gloucester Park – before heading overseas. Those victories totalled nearly $4.5 million in prizemoney.
His journey in the sulky began back in 2021 and in August that year, he brought up his first winning drive at Wagin behind Fleur Du Maquis for trainer Bianca Ashcroft.
Baskerville-based Bell quipped that it had been a bit of tough love that had driven Symington, who became his stable foreman and stable driver, to success. He said it had sparked an aggressiveness in races that had become a key to his driving.
“He was a bit timid when he first came here, but a few rev ups and a few sprays kind of hardened him up,” he laughed.
“He was always just so driven to succeed and so hungry. His attention to detail to all the one-percenters is just immaculate and he’s also like that towards his driving.
“I spoke to him after the (US) race and he’s taking it all in and sounds like he’s loving it. It was everything to him to get that first win – he was relieved and praying that there are more to come.”
Meadlowlands race broadcaster Ken Warkentin also praised Symington to mark the moment as the young West Australian did his victory lap after the race.
“Well, he took the long way around, but why not to celebrate his first start and first victory at the Meadowlands,” Warkentin said.
“He’s come a long, long way … it’s a very talented young reinsman from Down Under in Australia. Kyle Symington, you’ve earned it.”
Racing WA Head of Harness Racing and Special Projects Cameron Brown said Symington’s maiden win had added to recent Australian success in the US through drivers including Andy and Todd McCarthy.
“After coming from a non-harness racing background, Kyle has become a great ambassador for our sport,” Brown said.
“It is great to see him broadening his skill base and experience in the US, which has been a really happy hunting ground for Australian drivers.”
Kyle Symington representing WA at last year’s Australasian Young Drivers' Championship
Steve Butler