O’Reilly’s first winner

It’s taken a few months and more drives than she would have liked, but Sarah O’Reilly is resting easy this week knowing that one of the biggest challenges in her short driving career to date is now behind her. The quietly-spoken youngster notched up the first win of her driving career at Motukarara on Monday after 72 attempts when she found the perfect gap to push through with Highland Reign in the final race of the day. O’Reilly doesn’t lack for anything in the bloodlines department. Her father is well-regarded horseman Gerard O’Reilly, while she’s also been able to call on the skills and expertise of her uncles, Patrick, Kerry and Leo along the way too plus the added experience of her employer, Bruce Negus. ‘‘Dad’s been great and has made sure I wasn’t worrying about it too much and just letting it happen,’’ O’Reilly said.