Elly Chapple has no intention of marking time and is still powering forward in her chosen sport of harness racing.
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Chapple made a return to harness racing in July, after breaking her elbow in a horror race fall at Inverell in March, and picked up some minor placings.
But that all changed at last week's Tamworth meeting, when she drove Louthpark Xsresso to a win.
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"I was really excited about that win," said Chapple. "It was good to get that milestone after the fall I had at Inverell."
Louthpark Xsresso is trained by her father Dean.
"The horse travelled well to the line - he is a nice horse," added Chapple, with the Dawn Ofa New Day gelding having a 1.5 metre win over $1.55 race favourite Kendys Butterfly (Jake Hughes). Angelina Julie (Anthony Varga) was 11 metres away in third place.
Louthpark Xsresso took the trail in behind race leader (Kendys Butterfly), before taking a safe passage on the final turn to come away for the win.
For Chapple, who will soon graduate from high school, it will be full steam ahead as she has set her sights on a career in harness racing.
"Once I finish school, I will be able to work with Dad next year and get a bit more serious and hopefully get a career in the industry."
Chapple looks up to her father as a mentor. She also has great respect for Queensland reinswoman Lola Weidemann.
"Lola has a great work ethic and she is a great horsewoman," said Chapple.
"Both Lola and her niece, Stacey, took me under their wing when I started off."
There is no rest for Chapple in the school holidays as she is working at the stables of Sue Grills.
"I'm just doing some work around the stables," said the teen, who will take part in the Newcastle meeting on Friday night.
Chapple will take the reins behind Heavenly Flare, for Maitland trainer Jess Dart, in the opening event.
"I drove the horse at his first start back and Jess offered me the drive on Friday night," she said.
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CONGRATULATIONS to another up and coming reinswoman in Jemma Coney, who received an invitation this week to contest the $20,000 Rising Star Invitational race at Menangle on October 24.
The Rising Star series is usually conducted over 10 days on different tracks and then returns to Menangle for the final. But due to Covid-19, there will be one invitation-only race this year.
Jemma made a mark in the industry by taking out the under-23 junior drivers premiership at Tamworth, as well as the Johns Auto Service Local Female Driver at Tamworth, for the 2019/2020 season.
She is in seventh place in the Harness Racing NSW leading female drivers premiership with 20 winning drives - just one ahead of her sister, Madi Young.
Madi won the 2018 Rising Star series.
The talented reinswomen's father, Tamworth trainer Greg Coney, is proud of his daughters.
"They have done really well for themselves in the sport," he said. "Madi has driven over 100 winners and Jemma has really surprised me."
Jemma works for the Clayton Harmey stables in Cessnock whilst Madi has returned to Tamworth after a stint in the Western Districts.
