Nine drives at Hawera for Kate Coppins

by Jordyn Bublitz 

Kate Coppins is set for a busy afternoon at today’s Hawera meeting, with nine drives on the 10-race card. 

Her first two drives come in races 2 and 3, both for her grandmother Jill Coppins. 

In race 2, the Tommo's Tyres Mobile Pace, she pilots Rasmussin Effect, a runner who has shown enough lately to suggest he could be competitive on the grass.

“He’s been running on real good other than his last start,” Coppins said. “We’re hoping that on the grass he should be a pretty big chance.”

Her top pick of the day comes one race later. 

It's Jaccka Opa in Race 3, the Auro Super Shopp Hawera Mobile Pace. 

“It’s definitely a step down from the fields that he has been racing, he’s got a good record on the grass,” she said.

Race 4 sees Coppins link up with Donald Cossey to drive the quirky trotter Highview Rockn Roll, where the key will simply be getting her around safely.

“I’m just hoping I’ll get her to trot the whole way.”

One of Coppins’ other leading chances comes in the Revell Douglas Memorial Junior Drivers Heat 1 Mobile Pace, where she drives Baileys Pitch for her employer Arna Donnelly. It’s a horse she feels is better than his recent form suggests.

“He won his first start on the grass, so he knows what he’s doing out there. He should improve off his past couple of runs where he was unlucky at Palmy and I think he’s probably a bit long on the tote.”

She teams up with Michael House for several drives throughout the card, starting with Im All In in Race 6, before partnering Forgiveness in the Laurence and Avis Fleming Memorial Handicap Trot.

“If she trots all the way she’s definitely got the ability to run in the money, I think it’s just a matter of whether or not I bring my hands,” she laughed.

In the Dairy Tchnnology Services Hawera Cup Coppins is grateful for the chance to drive Rough And Ready for Donnelly.

“It’s great to get the opportunity to drive him again, he’s an old war horse. I think he’ll go pretty good considering he’s only copped a 10m handicap.”

She rounds out her day with Big Gee and Shezabettorgirl for House, the latter rounding out her top picks alongside Jaccka Opa and Baileys Pitch.

“It’s a much easier field for her than what she has been facing,” she said of Shezabettorgirl.

“The draw could be a bit tricky but being on a big long straight I don’t think it would worry her.”

Race 1 is at noon.