31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Thornley may need to make tough call
Gemma Thornley may find herself forced to make a tough decision if the second half of 2025 goes as well as she hopes.
The 25-year-old was the punter's princess at Addington on Sunday when she reined favourites Belmont Valor and Action Major to win consecutive races before her aunt, Olivia Thornley, won the next race for an unusual family treble.
It was not Gemma's first daily double and she even drove at treble a couple of years ago but she acknowledges the importance of taking control of a race when on the favourite.
"I think it is important to prove to people you can do that, handle the pressure of being on favourites and getting them home," she said.
"I might get some recognition for having the family name but on the whole I haven't had big stable backing in my career so when you do get on favourites you want to show other trainers you aren't easily intimidated."
The double takes Thornley to 88 career wins in New Zealand, a number which would already be a lot higher had she not taken 10 months off last year to work at an equestrian stable in England.
"I loved it and learning new things but I also missed the excitement of driving," she said.
"So while it was a great experience I am loving being back and this season is going well."
The question is whether that might be too well as Thornley is already on 21 wins for 2025.
"Ideally, I'd like the opportunity to drive as a junior again next season seeing how I missed more or less a year last year.
"But if I get to 100 wins [career] by the end of the season I probably won't get my junior licence back.
"So I might have some thinking to do if I get to like 98 or 99 wins a month out from the end of the season whether I am better off sitting a few meetings out to stay a junior and keep learning next season."
But Thornley, who works for Greg and Ben Hope, also realises she is on pace to get to the 100 career wins mark well before December and could not face sitting out two or more months at such an important time of the year.
"But I will think about that closer to time and at the moment I am just really enjoying my driving and thankful for the support I am getting."
She was not the only young female starring on Sunday afternoon at Addinton.
The other one was equine in first-start trotter Request, who won the first on the card for trainer Ken Barron.
"She is bred to trot well and she does it well, although we still have some tidying up to do on how she corners," Barron said.
"I think she will keep improving and the long-term aim is the Trotting Oaks at the end of the season if she gets to that level."
Request is one of 25 horses Barron has in work with more to come in so he is not really sticking to a promise he made to himself to start slowing down a few years ago.
"Ultimately young Sam Thornley wants to buy into the business and eventually I see him taking it over," Barron said.
"But he might still be a bit too young to take it over yet and I might not be old enough to retire so we will keep going for a while." — HRNZ
By Michael Guerin
