Pembrook's Delight capped a big season for Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight with an upset win in the $150,000 race for 4yr-old mares at Cambridge on Saturday.
Pembrook's Delight, driven by 21-year-old Oamaru reinsman Matthew Williamson, outfinished the hot favourite, Bettor Cover Lover, after trailing the latter in the lead. Pembrook's Delight ran the mile in 1.55.4.
It was the seventh win for Pembrook's Delight, raced by Bill and Pauline Bain, of Roxburgh and Jude Campbell, of Alexandra.
"She [Pembrook's Delight] will now go to the spelling paddock and come back for mares races next season," Geoff Knight said.
Pembrook's Delight, who cost $30,000 as a yearling, is set to join the broodmare band of Bill Bain. She also won the final of the southern Belle series at Winton in 1.56.5.
The Knights are enjoying their best season with 31 wins.
They are one win behind Murray Brown among the Southland and Otago trainers. Geoff began his association with harness racing as an owner-trainer at Pukekohe in the 1986-87 season.
He had his first win with Taporo Jack at Ruakaka in January 1987. He switched to public training at Roxburgh in 2006-07.
Williamson has been closely linked to the Knight stable this season, during which he has amassed a personal best 74 wins. He is the leading South Island junior driver by a wide margin.
A hearing has been adjourned into a charge against trainer Mark Purdon over Escapee.
A post-race veterinary examination revealed a large lesion in the right side rump area of the filly. She galloped in the early stages of her race.
Gold Ace recovered quickly from colic that caused his late scratching from the HJ.
He developed the condition about two hours before his race when he arrived at the track.
"We had the vet treat him and the response was immediate," Steven Reid, his trainer, said.
"He will be set for the NZ Cup."
