Stephanie Lippiatt couldn’t believe it had finally happened as she took Catch A Moment onto the track for the Schweppes Lady Drivers Invitational on Saturday night.
The race is run in conjunction with the Carnival Of Miracles and the Team Teal campaign which generates money for Ovarian Cancer Research every time a female driver wins a race around Australia and New Zealand over a six week period in February and March.
Stephanie had been invited to participate in 2018, but declined because she was pregnant with her second son Cody. Last year she missed out again when the NSWHRC decided to use the NSW drivers’ premiership list as their criteria in determining invitations.
“I really don’t know how I qualified for an invitation this year, but they didn’t have to ask me twice,” said the twenty five year old. Many thoughts were pounding in Stephanie’s brain as she scored up behind the coveted number one gate.
She was content in the knowledge that her mount was trained by the hugely successful Amanda Turnbull, and that the four year old had run a very respectable race in the Group 2 Paleface Adios Stakes a week earlier.
Amanda had worried her a little when she explained that Catch A Moment had a very exaggerated hind leg action and had a tendency to contact the sulky wheels should he get overly keen. “He actually got both wheels for a few strides turning into the back straight, so I just quickened slightly and he gave it away,” said Steph. “Next thing the 800m digital timer flashed a quick 55.3 and I was worried I’d gone too quickly.”
Stephanie took little notice of the third quarter which the four year old stallion put behind in a slick 28.2. “He felt terrific at the top of the straight, and I knew they’d have to run something sensational if they were going to round me up,” said the young Mum. Catch A Moment screamed home in 27.1 to win by 6 metres from Firestorm Red (Madi Young) and Superbass (Kerry Ann Morris). “I knew I’d run along a bit, but I got a surprise to see 1.50.6 on the semaphore when I came back,” said Steph.
Image courtesy Dean Mitchell - Catch A Moment was "airborne" in the closing stages of the Lady Drivers Invitational.
At last the monkey was off her back. Stephanie had been yearning to drive an outright Saturday night metropolitan winner. She went tantalisingly close just over a year ago when she dead heated on the Harry Martin trained Double Encounter. “It was so good to get my first metro win on such a big night, against some of the best female drivers in Australia,” she said.
Stephanie Lippiatt was born in Sydney in 1994, and many are surprised to learn she’s of Scottish descent. A job transfer brought her father Ian, mother Isobel, and older brother and sister to Australia in the early 1990’s.
Although as Aussie as the emu, Stephanie actually holds dual citizenship which has been of far less concern to her than it has to several Australian politicians. Surprisingly her surname has French origins.
She took a shine to horses from around age six and was very active in pony club and the show ring until her early teens. A chance meeting with an affable young trotting driver was destined to change her life forever.
David Morris, son of harness trainer Noel Morris was already well on his way to establishing a full time career as a freelance race driver. Apart from possessing a natural gift for the art, young David’s personable nature had made him a favourite with owners and trainers. At the time Stephanie joined the family, the winners were flowing freely.
It wasn’t long before David was encouraging his pretty blonde partner to swap the saddle for the sulky. “First up I learned how to harness a pacer correctly, before graduating to the jog cart,” recalled Stephanie. “I didn’t enjoy the sting of little stones hitting me in the face and I was ready to give it away before I even started. I persevered for a few more weeks and before long I was hooked.”
Image courtesy Club Menangle - It took a long time for Stephanie to make the switch from the saddle to the sulky.
Today Stephanie works six days a week for two Menangle stables. She spends a couple of hours every morning assisting Leon Jurd before switching over to the Darren Binskin stables. Both trainers are housed in the busy Menangle barn making for an easy transition.
She and David have two horses of their own stabled with Noel Morris. Steph is hoping that four year old mare Grahams Legacy will hold together.
“She won a couple of two year old races in 2018 and has plenty of ability,” she says. “She has several issues but is OK at the moment, and we’ve got the fingers crossed.”
Stephanie and David have two very lively young sons. Riley, soon to be five years old is besotted with horses and looks a certainty to follow in the footsteps of Mum and Dad. It’s too soon to tell if younger brother Cody (19 months) has inherited the genes, but the odds are short that he’ll be looking to grasp the reins in a few short years David’s parents Noel and Kim are dedicated babysitters. “Without them David and I would struggle to get to places like Penrith and Newcastle, says Steph. “They make it possible for us to stay in the game.”
Stephanie is in her fourth season of race driving. Her first winner was a $67.00 “pop” called Dusty Delight at Menangle three and a half years ago. She’s not certain, but believes Catch A Moment on Saturday night puts her into the high “thirties”.
Image courtesy Club Menangle - Steph couldn't believe it had finally happened. Congratulations from partner David Morris after her first win on Dusty Delight 2017.
The thrill of a win in a sizzling 1.50.3 on Saturday night has fired her enthusiasm to new levels. David is equally devoted to his chosen role as a freelance reinsman. They’re a busy couple, but they’ll have to take time out for another important commitment next year. At the risk of jumping the gun, I’m privileged to break the news that one of Sydney harness racing’s most popular duos will exchange wedding vows in October of 2021.
There isn’t a person in the industry who won’t wish them well.
(Banner image courtesy Ashlea Brennan Photography - Stephanie Lippiatt cracks it for her first metro win on Catch A Moment, Menangle 29/02/2020)