3 minute read

Deni Roberts and Emily Suvaljko flew the flag for WA on Sunday at the 2024 Australian Female Drivers Championship held at Launceston and they did not disappoint.

With six heats conducted on the day, it was WA star Deni Roberts who walked away with the crown, winning on a countback after tying with Queensland reinswoman Chloe Butler on 49 points.

"The series was very competitive.

"With five separate winners it was a very close finish.

"But I think that's what made it suck a good series and definitely put the pressure on by the time the last heat came around."

Deni Roberts claimed honours in the fourth event when the $1.90 favourite Binalong Week lead all the way from barrier one to space the field with an impressive 28.6m winning margin for trainer Craig Turnbull.

Binalong Week spent 14 months away from the track, making his return on September 23 and going three from three this preparation, a winner of five from just seven career starts for the four-year-old.

Roberts, who drove in five of the seven races on the day, walked away with a win, a second placing, a third placing and a fifth, which ultimately got her over the line in the countback for champion.

"I had a great start and almost had the series in the bag until one of my favoured runners galloped turning for home.

"It was then my last drive that battled into 5th placing that ended up winning me the series."

Roberts currently boasts a 22% winning strike rate and a further 25% for placings, with the 29-year-old sitting on 142 winners so far this season, but she did mention that this year's championship results were far better than her 2018 attempt.

"I competed in the inaugural women champs in 2018 and I didn't salute the judge once, so I was glad to have improved from my last crack at it.

"I've had a lot of success of late and felt like winning this series was the cherry on top."

Emily Suvaljko took out race two on the card on board the Emma Stewart trained Waterfront NZ, claiming the track record with it with a 1:55:5 mile rate for the 2200m trip.

Suvaljko drove in six of the seven races on the day, with a win and two fourth placings contributing to her tally.

Deni Roberts will head to South Australia in December alongside reinsman Gary Hall Jnr where the two will represent Western Australia in the Australian Driver Championships.

Final points -

Deni Roberts 49

Chloe Butler 49

Samantha Pascoe 45

Taylah Osmond 45

Olivia Weidenbach 43

Emily Suvaljko 41

Tiarna Ford 35

Paige Bevan 34

Grace Panella 31