Anyone who is connected with horses knows just how hard it is to plan too far ahead but at Victor Harbor on Easter Sunday, Emilys Vacation produced the perfect ending for the Rofe family.
Brothers Paul and Mark Rofe are based in Sydney but their mother lives at Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, near Victor Harbor.
Paul Rofe explained that each Easter, the brothers return for a family gathering with their mum and family.
“We have the trotter Emilys Vacation with Claire Goble and saw the meeting was on at Victor Harbor and there was a race for her so said let’s go to the trots,” Rolfe said.
About 20 members of the family headed to Victor Harbor and Goble also made the trip with the five-year-old mare.
Driven by Matthew Jacques, Emilys Vacation ($4.10) was on her best behavior and finished best to score a three metre win from Bold Law ($5.20) with Elementofdoubt ($24.80) two metres away third.
Rofe said credit had to be given to Goble who had put plenty of work into developing the mare into a competitive trotter.
“She really was a handful as a younger horse but Claire has kept working with her and now she is finally starting to realise her potential but when we planned this day knew there was a chance she wouldn’t be here, then could have blotted her copybook.
“However, everything went to plan and the rest of the family are impressed and think how easy it must be but we know that is not the case.”
The Rofes love trotters and purchased four mares from New Zealand about 20 years and they won about 60 races in the eastern states with Queens Rhapsody, winning a NSW Oaks, plus running second in the Victoria Trotters Derby and third in the Victoria Trotters Oaks.
Arnikas Pride, the dam of Emilys Vacation, was another of those mares and won 12 races before heading to the breeding barn.
“We’ve had horses with Claire for quite a few years and can’t praise her enough for the job she has done with Emilys Vacation.”
Jacques, who has a great association with Emilys Vacation, now has won two races on the mare and timed her run perfectly on Sunday.
He sat back early then just when Bold Law was being hailed as the winner for trainer-driver Marcus Hearl on straightening, produced Emilys Vacation with as winning run.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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