Luke Sutherland ditches the tools for the sulky

By Jordan Gerrans

Kiwi Luke Sutherland spent more than a decade working on the tools dreaming of a gig in the harness racing game. 

A qualified drain layer and excavator operator, the 35-year-old has over the last year ditched the tools to chase his ambitions with the standardbreds.

Sutherland has been a new face in the Queensland concession driving ranks in recent weeks after debuting at Albion Park early last month. 

He moved to Australia a couple of years ago and admits that when he jumped on the plane to shift across the ditch, never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would eventually become a professional harness racing driver.

“It is difficult, it is a big step up from trials and obviously trackwork,” Sutherland said.

“You do not realise how hard and full-on it is out there. You need to make split-second decisions.”

Sutherland has been employed as a trackwork driver for trainers such as Ben Battle, Michael Brennan and Gemma Hewitt since he arrived in the Sunshine State a little more than two years ago. 

He decided to go full-time in racing in March of this year and step away from his gig on the construction site. 

The keen horseman drove trackwork for trainers for around a decade before heading off to his day job previously. 

It is something he had always dreamed of doing but it wasn’t a realistic option until recently.

Former Western Australian trainer Brennan was instrumental in handing Sutherland trial opportunities to build up his resume to get the approval to drive on race day.

He has taken five drives at the races so far and has placed on a couple of occasions. 

“I have completed an apprenticeship in New Zealand and I have all my construction tickets here,” Sutherland said.

“With all that stuff to fall back on if the racing does not work out, it was the right time to give it a go.

“I always wanted to give racing a go full-time.

“I never thought when I moved to Australia in 2023 that I would be driving in races, that is for sure.

“Gemma has said she will give me a lot of opportunities, so her and Brendan Barnes have come to the party work wise with everything they have offered me.

“It is awesome.”

The New Zealander has recently shifted from working at Brennan’s barn to the team of Hewitt and her partner Barnes. 

In search of his maiden winner as a reinsman, Sutherland has bookings for Hewitt and Brennan on Thursday at Redcliffe. 

He ran second aboard Brennan’s Withoutthetuh at Marburg last month and he will partner the gelding over 1780 metres on Thursday. 

Dreamtime Nala from the Hewitt camp will also be looking to bounce back after a couple of lacklustre efforts at Redcliffe.

“He was really good at Marburg,” Sutherland said of Withoutthetuh’s recent performance.

“I found the top and then we got attacked with a lap to go. He is going to get quite an economical trip on the fence on Thursday at Redcliffe.

“If the gaps come our way, I can see him running top three, that is for sure. Dreamtime Nala has been a bit disappointing in her last couple.

“But, she has the same sort of draw as Withoutthetuh, so we should be along the fence and hopefully I can find the gaps late.”

Sutherland was introduced to the game as a youngster by his uncle who owned a few pacers in NZ. 

He drove trackwork for Matt Purvis back home before shifting to Australia.

Sutherland is also a close mate of Canterbury harness racing driver Robbie Close who encouraged him to follow him into the driving ranks.