She's the winningest horsewoman in human history and tonight harness racing’s ruling queen Kerryn Manning sits on the precipice of an almost unthinkable milestone.
It’s almost 28 years since a shy, raw kid from Victoria’s Western Districts won her first ever race.
That day, Manning manoeuvred her way to success aboard a juvenile filly named Gorgeous Gambit.
And, unbeknownst to all, a racing legend was born.
Tonight, that legend will pack her driver's bag and head to Ballarat knowing that she’s driven 3999 winners.
And if punters are the prognosticators they believe they are, win 4000 may be only hours away.
Amazingly, Manning has moderated her driving duties in recent years to concentrate on training.
Once upon a time she’d have nine drives on PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup night; this evening she has three.
Two of those will be long odds; but Red Hot Tooth, who has been heavily backed to win the Group 2 E B Cochran Trotters Cup looks perfectly placed to prevail.
It won’t be her biggest success - Manning has won most of Australasia’s biggest events with Arden Rooney and La Coocaracha among the greats she’s partnered, and she conquered the world with Knight Pistol, blazing the trail for female talent following in her footsteps - but it may well be her best.