By Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk
It’s one target down and two to go for talented junior driver Olivia Thornley.
Last night the 25-year-old achieved a major personal milestone with her 100th driving success. Robyns Art came from the one-one to win the Captaintreacherous – The Morning Star Filly Mobile in race 4 at Addington ahead of Lorton Vale in a Michael House-trained quinella.
“Getting to 100 wins is something I’ve always wanted to do – it’s one of those milestones you want to tick off,” Thornley says.
“It was pretty special to get there.”
She brought up three figures in her eighth season of driving. Her first winner was Awaytocullect for her father Robin Thornley at Motukarara in December 2017.
Her first big break came working for the All Stars’ stable at Rolleston. She was there for eight years before moving to her current employers, Hayden and Amanda Cullen.
Along the way she’s driven and won with some equine superstars (think Akuta and Oscar Bonavena) as well as claiming Group 1s with Chase A Dream in the 2023 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final and No Matter Wat in the 2022 IRT New Zealand Oaks.
Both Group 1s were extraordinary victories with Chase A Dream miles off them turning for home and No Matter Wat pulling badly during the entire race.
“Chase A Dream came from no man’s land that day and with No Matter Wat I was just a passenger.”
But pride of place is Millwood Nike – the superstar who won 17 from 17 before being retired with a tendon issue.
Thornley drove her in her first two wins, at Timaru in May 2022 and then the Group 3 Helen Pope 2Yo Fillies Stakes at Ashburton in June. Co-trainer Mark Purdon then drove in her next 12 wins.
“I did a lot of work with her because she was quite highly-strung and it was just so cool to win on a horse I’d done a lot of work with and she was very special in the end.”
If Millwood Nike was your favourite at the Purdons who’s your favourite at the Cullens?
“Winelight is one and so is Hadron Collider, he’s quite a quirky horse but I like him too.”
Winelight and Thornley combined to win the Harness Million 2YO Fillies last year while Hadron Collider and Blair Orange took out the Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup last Sunday.
As for future goals Thornley has two.
Her tally for 2025 is 18 driving wins – three short of her personal best for a season.
“I’ve equalled it twice in the past two years so it would be nice to equal or even beat that.”
And then there’s her third target?
“That is to train a winner.”
So far she’s taken her trotter Starstruck to the races six times – for one placing.
“That’s the next milestone.”
