Emma Ison: Youngster will race against her brothers Sam and Tom on Thursday

Rest assured the 20-year-old has the same determination she carried upon stepping out of the mini-trots ranks and into the world of competitive harness in her first stint as a professional driver.

"I am hoping to pick up where I dropped off," she said. "Dad (harness racing trainer Andy Ison) was super excited when I said I wanted to come back to driving."

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Emma is looking forward to once again competing against her older brothers Sam and Tom, with all three engaged in the final race on the program on Thursday - the Multiquip Transport Pace.

Emma has drawn pole position with Overthemoon while Tom has drawn the two barrier with Point Oh Five. Both horses are trained by their father.

Sam Ison has drawn the eight barrier with Just Tommy, whom he also trains.

"I am excited to be racing against my brothers again," said Emma, who will also take the reins behind Sir Macador in the APG 2022 Vendors Benefits Pace on Thursday.

Emma, who has three career wins, elected to take time away from harness racing to build a career outside the sport and is now second-in-command to another harness racing enthusiast, in Cameron Bullock, at Bearing Accessories in Tamworth.

"I am now where I want to be in my life and my career so I thought it was time to come back to harness racing," she said. "And it's time to bring Tom back a notch or two," she joked.

"I was nervous when I had my first trial drive back," she added. "But by the time I had come back to the stables, I was wondering what I was worried about.

"Dad said, 'If you don't have nerves, you don't have the passion for it (driving).'"

"A win is always a bonus," she added. "But if I get around with no problems, that will work for me as well.

"I do have one ambition for the future - and that is to drive a dead heat with Sam and Molly [Ison], when she starts driving. I already have a dead heat with Tom."

Emma's younger sister Molly is working her way up through trial drives, in readiness to take to the Paceway.

Emma said "working with the horses is just a good way of spending time with my family".

"And Nan (Barbara Ison) is over the moon as well to see me back."

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