Teenager Limpus making her mark in the sulky

By Jordan Gerrans

It can be tough for junior harness racing drivers to attract opportunities when they are just starting out, but teenager Lorelei Limpus is already impressing stables with her ability in the bike.

The multiple award-winning Mini Trots driver commenced her journey in the big league in early June and is aligned with the Trent and Crystal Dawson stable.

Like all young drivers, Limpus is searching for more race day opportunities from other stables and she was able to find some quickly through the Alyce and Jayson Finnis team.

The connection delivered the 16-year-old reinswoman her maiden victory at Marburg earlier this month when the Finnis-prepared Art Jester landed the prize.

Back in early June, Limpus was driving Kuzma for Crystal Dawson in one of her first engagements after debuting and it was in that performance that she caught the eye of the Finnis camp.

“We had Tilly Jayne in the race when she had her first ever drive at Marburg,” Jayson Finnis recalls.

“She crossed them at the start, then used her initiative before handing up to the favourite.

“She didn’t get caught up in the moment. From that day on, I saw that she kept her cool and thought I wouldn't mind giving her a drive one day.

“She looks like she's going to be a handy driver.

“She used her initiative and I know it helped us because Tilly Jayne won the race, but her horse ran second at a big price in her first-ever start at the track.”

Just a few weeks later, the Finnis stable booked Limpus to partner Art Jester around the same Marburg track and she delivered the stable the goods after they initially backed her.

Starting as the $3.20 favourite from two on the front line, the seven-year-old pacer was able to lead from start to finish in a dominant display.

It was a Finnis-trained quinella in the 1850 metre event, with stablemate Ubetonred running into second behind Art Jester.

The 35-year-old Jayson Finnis was impressed with the decisions Limpus made in the event to secure victory aboard Art Jester.

“She’s come up through the pony trots, so she’s had a good grounding,” he said.

“There’s no reason why she can’t go on with it, she just needs the opportunities.

“In the race she won for us, she let the horse be happy, didn't choke him up and just let him bowl like he wanted to. She rated him to perfection.”

Limpus had placed on six occasions before landing her maiden triumph at just her 20th career race start.

Limpus is back at the races on Friday night at Redcliffe, where she will partner her old favourite Kuzma, with the gelding having been one of the constants of her short driving career so far.

In March at the Queensland Harness Awards in Brisbane, Limpus walked away with two major gongs.

She was honoured as the Mini Trotting Driver of the Year at the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and the Marburg Harness Racing Club.

“I drove in the Mini Miracle Mile earlier this year and a few years ago I went away to Menangle to compete in the Inter Dominion,” she said in June.

Limpus has worked at the Dawson stable over the last few years as she has aimed to further her knowledge of the sport and progress her driving career.

The Year 11 student is keen to follow her passion for harness racing after finishing school and is hopeful of making a career out of it.

Limpus’ interest in harness racing comes from her mother’s side of the family, with many members of the Tobin family having been involved in the caper over the generations.