Berrigan teenager Lillianna MeyerVale and fast-paced pony Honey blitzed the field to win the final of the 2025 National Pony Series (Large Pony category) held at the Gold Coast Turf Club on June 7.
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The final was the culmination of the series, which included both large and small ponies and was conducted in six states: NSW, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria over recent months.
The large pony final was run over a distance of 750m and Lilli and Honey drew barrier one, which saw them pass the post in an overall time of 47.51 sec.
They passed the post in an overall time of 47.51 seconds, winning by three lengths from Sharmay Bleakley of Queensland.
“We did a lot of training, but I wasn’t really so confident because I thought the race would be highly competitive,” said a delighted Lily, who was amazed to win the event with such ease.
The MeyerVale family travelled to the Gold Coast, a distance of more than 1400km, to attend the event.
Honey travelled well for the three days it took to get there.
“Honey is a brilliant pony. She travels well and has a good temperament and appeared as happy as Larry mostly,” said Lilli’s dad, Brad Vale, a well-recognised jockey.
Having won the National Pony Series, Lilli’s world will change, and she will be offered opportunities to build a career in the racing industry — whether as a jockey like her dad, or a trainer like her mum, Shilleagh MeyerVale, or any one of the myriad roles in the racing industry.
Currently in Year 10 at Finley High School, she will complete her VCE studies before seeking an apprenticeship.
All monies she receives as an apprentice will go into a trust account until she reaches the age of 21 years.
She has a great love and passion for horses and has been around them for most of her life.
With her parents’ involvement in the industry, it’s what she knows, and she is keen to learn so much more!
While the family equine business is situated in Berrigan, Lilli competes with Benalla Pony Club, and she won the right to compete at the series final after winning at Moonee Valley early this year, wearing the silks of Ridgmont Stud.
Since then, she has put an enormous amount of training into herself and Honey, and shown a rare determination to bring out her best and that of her favourite pony.
Honey, in fact, is not owned by the MeyerVale family but a long-standing friend, Jordan Owens of Berrigan.
“Lilli said to me one day, ‘I need a good fast pony’, and knowing I had Honey, thought that with some serious training we could bring her up to compete in the Pony Series,” Jordan said.
“Honey is a chestnut mare, eight years old, who stands at 13.2hh. She is smart, and we hoped was fast enough to race well. You have to build a relationship, especially with a mare, and you need to respect them and gain their trust.
“I prefer mares, they give everything they’ve got and more!
“She has reached her peak and is a very versatile pony, who is good on her feet.”
She certainly proved that at the Gold Coast Turf Club, despite it being well known that a chestnut pony can at times be strong-willed and difficult at times.
Perhaps the key ingredient for success between rider and pony is mutual respect.
The young finalists on the Gold Coast had a fantastic week. The event was action-packed and run by Thoroughbred Industry Careers in conjunction with Pony Club Australia.
The series, now in its second year, has been introduced to young riders aged from nine to 15 years to take part in pony racing events held at professional racecourses.
Besides showcasing the talents of the young riders, it also promotes education around equine welfare and life after racing.
The riders attended a barbecue, the Magic Millions yearling sale and participated in the barrier draw.
Riders and their ponies attended The Spit, where they enjoyed a swim in the ocean, something many of them, rider and pony, had not experienced previously.
The sport of racing strengthens friendships through mutual love of horses, and Jordan Owens and her grandfather trainer Ross Perryman of Berrigan have been long-term friends of Bradley Vale and Shilleagh MeyerVale and their family.
Brad has ridden horses for Ron for more than 20 years with good success, and the pair and their families have formed strong friendships.
”I couldn’t be happier that the partnership between Lilli and Honey enabled her to showcase her talent at a national level,” said Jordan, who grew up in the industry herself when just a small child and is also a mother of three up-and-coming riders.
Photos supplied by Sharon Chapman.
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