Veteran galloper Come Along Jeffrey provided apprentice Chelsea Thompson with her first winner when the gelding resurrected his career leading all the way at Kilmore on Monday.
With her proud parents watching on, Chelsea left nothing to chance as she booted the eight-year-old from the barriers to take up the running and was still growling at him in the closing stages to ensure victory.
“It’s just great to get the first win out of the way, especially for a great team like Jamie’s,” said Chelsea who was having her 29th race ride and her third for Emsley Lodge.
“I’ve had a few rides for Jamie now and I have to thank him and the team for putting me on.”
Chelsea was beaming after the win but kept focussed all the way to the line.
“I couldn’t hear anything coming, but I didn’t want to risk it, and I was giving him a good growl, to the line.”
Chelsea’s parents drove her to the races and joined in the post-race photo with their daughter, owner Brian O’Dwyer and strapper Darby Edwards.
“I’m very close to my family and to have them here is amazing,” Chelsea said.
“They keep saying we’re not missing a meeting until you get a winner, so I’m happy that I’ve got the that off my back now and they can start missing a couple if they really want to.”
Chelsea is apprenticed to Dane Smith at Stawell and with his son Judd working at Emsley Lodge and his sister Jade injured on the sidelines the connection to Chelsea was formed.
She has ridden Tori’s Dee twice and has finished close-up on him both times.
Come Along Jeffrey was having his 50th race start and Monday’s The Millennium Falcon Sprint BM56 (1200m) was his ninth win and took he career earnings above to $200,000.
Last year he had no luck when transferred to South Australia to continue his career, but race patterns worked against him, and he returned to Emsley Lodge to retire.
However, an encouraging track gallop and a couple of trial wins reignited his career.
“In Adelaide, they would take him on in front, but he likes to bully a race and lead, then travel keen, like her did today,” Jamie said.
He said after two encouraging recent runs, the son of Super One was well placed in a BM56 at Kilmore and with Chelsea’s four-kilo claim only had to carry 58.5kg which undoubtedly helped him.
“We’re absolutely thrilled for Chelsea, and it is great that she was able to get her first winner on an old stable favourite like Come Along Jeffrey,” Jamie said.