Graham Fischer
RESIDENTS at Trevu House were ecstatic on Sunday when Joes A Character led throughout to win the 2021 DF & E Kemp & Son Gawler Pacing Cup over 2550m at the Two Wells Road track.
Joes A Character is bred, owned and trained by Yvette Zitterbart – a relief cook at Trevu House, and also the Gawler Lifestyle Village.
“A number of the residents have become Joes’ biggest fans,” Zitterbart said.
“They want to know when he is racing and love to listen in – I’m very appreciative of their support.”
On Sunday, Joes A Character, the $1.85 favourite, led throughout with Danielle Hill in the sulky to take the Gawler Pacing Cup by four-and-a-half metres from Maharajah ($51) and Elmers Hoofing It ($7) a nose away in third.
Zitterbart, who trains the five-year-old at Willaston, said it had been a dream come true to win her hometown cup.
“This is a race I dared to dream of winning,” Zitterbart said.
“I was shaking before and after the race – nervous before the race, and in disbelief after it.
“I had a bit of a scare on Saturday with one of his feet, but I’m grateful that my farrier David Quirk made the trip up to see him.
“David has done a fabulous job getting his feet right and his work is one reason why Joe is going so well.”
The win qualified Joes A Character for a start in the SA Cup at Globe Derby Park in April.
For Hill, it was her third Gawler Cup win, having scored on Mark Dennis in 2016 and Bettor Party in 2017 when the race was run at Globe Derby Park.
“When Joe was able to lead and I was able to rate him, I knew he was going to be hard to beat,” Hill said.
“There was a bit of a scare coming into the straight the first time when he caught sight of the crowd lining the outside fence – he wanted to run about, but I straightened him and he was okay the next time around.
“I have been very lucky to pick up the drive and I’m so pleased for Yvette who has taken him through his classes to win the cup.”
A crowd of about 1000 turned out for the seven-race program on the Gawler Harness Racing Club’s annual cup meeting.
The other feature race of the day, the 2021 Podiatry Care Gawler Hambletonian Trotters Cup over 2550m went to Victorian horse The Penny Drops, trained by Ray Harvey and driven by Mark Billinger.
Coming off a 20-metre handicap, The Penny Drops ($2.30 fav), scored by one-and-a-half metres from Ymbro Wasted ($9.50) with local star Kitsilano ($11) running on strongly for third, two-and-a-half metres away.
Local business Aaron Bain Racing hosted a marquee of about 160 owners and their families, and supplied the opening winner Vindicate ($1.15 fav) which led throughout in the 1800 Got Junk Pace (1609m).