3 minute read
A huge crowd turned out at Broken HIll's first meeting of the season on Saturday the 20th of December and there was not a 'dry eye' on course.
This was when young reinswoman Ashleigh Camilleri drove Cityscape to victory in the Leesa Jane McInnes Memorial, a race named in honour of Ashleigh's late mother. Camilleri's mother passed away in August this year and the young reinswoman shed a tear or two straight after the race when embraced by her father.
"It was a huge honour for me to win my Mum's race, I wouldn't care if I didn't win another race all season. It meant so much to me and when Cityscape kicked in the straight and pulled out enough it was a very special feeling," Camilleri said.
"I said to Dad that Mum would have told me 'it was just another bloody race' but I'm sure she was watching and cheering me home and it was definitely the biggest win of my career."
Saturday night was the first time that Camilleri had driven in a race since breaking her ankle in a fall.
"It was my first night back and I had been out for a fair while but I set a target to be back for the first meeting this season, I only had two drives, the first one drew poorly and finished last but Cityscape did the right thing by everyone."
"The fields were big and for the local drivers we normally drive in fields of five or six but there were a couple of fields that had nine runners in them on Saturday night and on our small track at Broken Hill it doesn't leave too much room."
Camilleri got such a rush when turning for home and the crowd started to cheer.
"When I turned into the straight I could hear them, there was a big crowd there, all of mum's workmates, friends and families turned up and were roaring."
"Mum was the co-ordinator of a 'Meals On Wheels' type service that provided meals to the elderly and she had lots of friends too."