Harness Racing: Courtney Sutherland celebrates first winner since becoming a mother behind Uncle Gregory

Uralla-based reinswoman Courtney Sutherland handled the reins behind Uncle Gregory, who with the win handed Sutherland her first winning drive after the birth of her daughter Everleigh five months ago, and the added bonus of capturing her first Team Teal win as part of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Campaign.

"The horse finally got the win," Sutherland said.

"He has been so unlucky in his runs."

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The seven-year-old Major In Art-The Gatecrasher gelding was having race start 12 for the breakthrough win after recording five minor placings.

"I thought the race panned out beautifully - I did think about going to the inside running line but the one by one was just beautiful for us and where I wanted to be," she said.

Commencing from the eight barrier, Sutherland guided Uncle Gregory, who is trained by her father Chris, into the one-by-one with Miss Social Media (Dean Chapple) from the Ty Robson stables leading the field.

Sutherland commenced a three-wide run with Uncle Gregory in the back straight on the final occasion.

Leading the field into the home straight Uncle Gregory went on for a 1.9 metre win over Seelsters Song (Sarah Rushbrook) with Miss Social Media a half neck away third.

"The horse responded beautifully when I asked him to go," Sutherland said.

"He has been out in the lead before in his races and just missed the win but this time he kept chugging along and it was a good mile rate."

Uncle Gregory clocked a neat two minutes in breaking his maiden status.

It was also a proud moment for Sutherland to have her daughter Everleigh trackside.

"I came back driving when she was four weeks old," she said.

"I am proud with driving my first winner as a mother and I hope she will be proud of that when she gets older."

"Everleigh was on the sidelines with her dad (David Munsie). Dave was calm and collected and pleased that I had won the race," she added with Uncle Gregory raced by the Munsie family.

Sutherland was also happy with her first win in the Teal pants.

"That was my first win for Team Teal as well and I am so stoked with the win," she said.

The Team Teal Campaign which will run until mid-March is where reinswomen drive in teal-coloured pants and for each win $500 is donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

There were three Team Teal wins at the meeting with Sutherland joined by Sarah Rushbrook, who was also enjoying her first winning drive since returning from injuries sustained in a race fall twelve months at Inverell with the win of Jackeroo Shannon in taking out the Hazell's Farm and Fertilizer Service Pace.

Madi Young also made her contribution to the campaign with the win of Karaoke Rock in the Multiquip Poultry Pace with the ladies showing dominance in taking out the first three races on the eight-race card.

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