Woodhouse heads north tomorrow with high hopes she and her pint-sized pony, who has already left for Auckland, can do Otago proud in Australasia’s biggest youth harness racing competition at Alexandra Park.
The 16-year-old is one of 27 aspiring drivers from across Australia and New Zealand who will go head to head in six heats and a final to decide the winner of the 2019 Kid Kartz Interdominion Championship.
Woodhouse and Gerry’s Boy will be on the same track, competing under the same spotlight, as the professional stars of harness racing.
The Interdominion trotting and pacing series has attracted the sport’s biggest names and fastest horses, who will vie for finals purses totalling $650,000.
Woodhouse has been able to put her full focus on the Kidz Kartz series, which begins on Friday, after putting her NCEA exams behind her earlier this month.
Now, she simply cannot wait to get to Auckland and compete.
"It is really exciting to be going up there," Woodhouse said.
"I am hoping we can do really well — the horse has proved himself a few times."
Woodhouse and Gerry’s Boy showed they are up with New Zealand’s best at the recent New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch.
The pair finished second in both the Kidz Kartz New Zealand Cup and the race’s prelude.
"It went really well — we led all of the way in both races and he just got overtaken at the finish," Woodhouse said.
Woodhouse and her sister, Gracie, who has also competed at the New Zealand Cup Carnival, have both refined their skills through the Kidz Kartz Otago programme.
The group, which holds weekly practice nights at Forbury Park, is one of several across the country that provide pathways into the racing industry for young people.
Canterbury driver Sheree Tomlinson is one of several professionals to find a career in the sport after progressing through the programme.
The 21-year-old will drive Marcoola, one of the leading contenders in the Interdominion trotting series.
Woodhouse is looking forward to getting an up-close look at Australasia’s best horses and drivers in the main Interdominion series.
She said she hoped one day she would be to able to compete with them.
