Racing: Changing riding codes no Thorn in side for in-form driver

By MIKE DILLON

Not many horse people get their biggest thrill from finishing second to last in a barrier trial.

Prominent harness driver Nicole Thorn did, though, when she had her first galloping ride at yesterday's Cambridge trials.

Fresh from a headline-making harness treble at Alexandra Park last Thursday night, Thorn climbed aboard giant veteran Bit Of A Myth for Ann and Ken Browne and described the occasion yesterday as a "huge blast".

Thorn switched employment from harness racing nearly a month ago to take up a permanent position with the Brownes at Cambridge.

She will still drive professionally in the harness code and will ride as an amateur in galloping.

"I am working in the stable in the morning and my afternoon job at Summitt Grains allows me to take the afternoon off if I have drives at the trots."

Thorn was recently granted an amateur jockeys' licence and says she is mad keen to secure a ride in the North Island's two remaining amateur riders' galloping races, the first of which is at the big Paeroa jumps festival next month.

The galloping bent is nothing sudden.

"It's something I always wanted to do," says Thorn.

"If I'd had the chance when I was getting into it I probably would have got into galloping rather than trotting.

"It's just the way it went. I had no associations with anyone in galloping and I got asked first by someone in trotting."

Thorn said that if she had become a professional jockey she would have specialised in jumps riding.

She says she has no idea what weight she is at the moment, but does not look to be carrying too much spare condition.

"When I went back to Christchurch I was 57kg. Even if I'm more than that, I could easily get back down to 57kg if I needed to."

Thorn had been driving work for Auckland trainer Doug Gale, who provided her with the trio of winners last Thursday night.

No links will be broken.

"I'm sure I won't lose any drives; certainly from Doug I won't. He was very supportive of me taking on the job with the Brownes. He felt getting out and doing something different would keep me fresh."

Thorn said jumping Bit Of A Myth out of the barriers was her biggest thrill.

"It was an amazing feeling, just awesome."

The open class 1975m trial was won by Drizzle, an emerging star hurdler for the Brownes.

Michelle Hopkins, who rode Drizzle, said Thorn has fitted into the stable as though she had been there all her life.

The open 1200m was won by Thatsacurlyone by seven lengths from Lady Of The House and Blue Rule, and smart mare Amah Dramas had only one opponent in the open 1000m, beating Avignon by two and a half lengths.