Scoring Up

23rd August 2026

The South Australian Harness Racing Club’s $5,000 first-win bonus for two-year-olds at Globe Derby has again delivered an important boost to local owners and breeders, with Sal Wester collecting the incentive following her victory in the final event at headquarters on Saturday night.

For Port Pirie husband-and-wife team Ron and Lee-Anne Lane, the victory carried an added reward, with the filly’s success earning them the $5,000 SAHRC bonus on top of the normal winner’s prizemoney.

The initiative was introduced by the SAHRC to encourage two-year-old racing at Globe Derby and provide owners and breeders with an additional incentive to race their young horses at the metropolitan venue.

Sal Wester arrived at Globe Derby in good form following some encouraging performances at Port Pirie, including a victory there last month. However, Saturday night’s success was particularly valuable, being her first win at Globe Derby and therefore qualifying her for the SAHRC’s $5,000 bonus.

The bonus was a fitting reward for the Lanes, whose family involvement in South Australian harness racing stretches back more than half a century.

Even the colours carried by their horses have a strong connection to the sport’s history, having originally been registered by Ron Lane’s great-uncle during the early days of racing at Wayville.

The Lanes have also been long-time clients of the Dale Afford stable, with that association continuing through Sal Wester.

Bred and raced by Ron and Lee-Anne, Sal Wester is by The Storm Inside, the undefeated Australian Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year, from the unraced mare Somewhere Sunshine.

Somewhere Sunshine had shown promise before a paddock accident brought an end to her racing career before she had the opportunity to fulfil that potential on the track.

There is also plenty of proven ability further back in Sal Wester’s maternal family.

Her second dam is the handy race mare Gotcha, a daughter of Live Or Die who won four races and was originally imported from New Zealand by the late Charles Okmasich. Following Okmasich’s passing, Gotcha was gifted to the Lanes and went on to make her mark as a broodmare.

Among her progeny was Tembie, the winner of 17 races, while she also produced four-time winner Gotta React, by Auckland Reactor.

Gotcha is also a half-sister to five-time winner Shamrocks, who later produced New Zealand and North American winner Bush Man, a 1:52.4 performer who earned $117,502.

Saturday night’s Globe Derby victory wasn’t without drama for Sal Wester.

Driver-trainer Dale Afford was able to work the filly to the lead approaching the back straight despite Sal Wester being checked on the first turn when Wishful Desire broke after clipping its own sulky.

Sal Wester recovered quickly from the interference and, once in front, was able to finish the job and secure an important victory.

Wishful Desire recovered strongly from its early mistake to finish second, with skewbald filly Sienna Bella filling third placing.

For the Lanes, however, the night provided more than another winner for a family that has devoted decades to South Australian harness racing.

It also demonstrated exactly what the SAHRC’s $5,000 two-year-old first-win bonus was designed to achieve — providing an extra reward to the owners and breeders prepared to breed, raise and race the next generation of South Australian pacers.