Photo: Daniel Webb
All smiles: Keayang Alex and Well Thats Alright with driver Grace Bilney.
After years of preparation, practice and hard work Shepparton’s Grace Bilney took the next step in her racing career on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old harness racing driver secured her first victory in the sport, driving Well Thats Alright to a win.
Bilney expertly drove the gelding to victory in the 1650m event, race 12 under lights at Bendigo.
An impressive result in the sulky behind the Luke Bryant-trained horse, Bilney was over the moon after securing her maiden win.
“It was a pretty good feeling,” Bilney said.
“I’ve waited a few years for it now, * so the last few months I’ve really been trying to get there and I finally got there.”
Her sixth drive in November and 18th overall, Bilney was in the pack as the field rounded the last corner, before finding a gap in the straight and crossing the line in the lead.
Taking the five-year-old standardbred to its fourth win from 33 starts, the reinswoman held the final push until the tail end of the race.
“It was a pretty quick race really,” she said.
“I sort of just sat three back on the fence and then on the final turn we found a gap and snuck through there and came up the outside of the track.
“He (Well Thats Alright) travelled pretty well the whole way, he was pretty relaxed but still on the bit.”
The driver’s third start on Well Thats Alright, Bilney has also driven the Bryant-trained Keayang Alex and No Bling in recent weeks.
Driving for five years and racing since September, the rising talent said she hoped the positive result would continue to push her driving career forward.
