Jokers Grin has last laugh with victory in The Quokka
The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
'It's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the Racing.com.
'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it.
'A dream come true.
'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier.
'It's just fantastic, a big dream.'
The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers.
Headwall emerged at the 200m and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of the Sydneysider to score with another local Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth.
'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said.
'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.'
The win also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran.
He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts.
Joker's Grin (white cap) proves too strong for Headwall (pink cap) and Generosity (orange cap). Picture: Western Racepix
'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said.
'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates.
'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate.
'This is just the pinnacle of my career.'
The winning slot-holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger.
Originally published as Jokers Grin delivers for the locals in The Quokka at Ascot
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas's best bets and inside mail for Warwick Farm on Wednesday
Form expert Ray Thomas analyses Wednesday's seven-race card at Warwick Farm, presenting his best bets, quaddie picks and inside mail. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET Race 1 No.3 BURMA STAR: Just missed when resuming, strips fitter and is suited coming back slightly in trip to 1100m. NEXT BEST Race 4 No.4 PRIMA BELLA: She was very impressive at Warwick Farm, her third win from four starts this campaign, and is a superior mudlark. VALUE Race 2 No.9 SPICE PRAWN: Improving filly who wasn't suited by the race tempo last start but still hit the line well. She's ready to win. QUADDIE Race 4: 3,4,7,9 Race 5: 2,3,7 Race 6: 1,4,7,13 Race 7: 3,4,13,14 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Jason Collett has a good book of six rides including leading chances Beside The Ocean, Prima Bella, Fairway Star and Signor Tortoni. TRAINER TO FOLLOW Bjorn Baker will be trying to utilise his home track advantage when represented by promising first starters, Defiance and Senjutsu, and the in-form Shalaa Gold, Fairway Star and O'Invincible. BURMA STAR (3) was easy in betting and had his chance to win first-up when run down by Tyreek at Canterbury two weeks ago. Burma Star got through the heavy track conditions that day well which should stand him in good stead for this race. Trainer Chris Waller has decided to take the blinkers off and put visors on, James McDonald stays with the Godolphin colt and coming back slightly to 1100m is in his favour. I liked the way GUS THE GREAT (5) finished off in a recent trial and he should go well on debut. WEST OF SWINDON (1) is talented but has a big weight and wide barrier to overcome. DEFIANCE (4) is another trailing well. BET: BURMA STAR (3) to win, saver on GUS THE GREAT (5) each way. SPICE PRAWN (9) gets her chance here. She was very good first-up when a close second to promising Without Peer then ran on without threatening when fourth to Tyreek and Burma Star at Canterbury. Spice Prawn will appreciate going to 1300m and is ready to win. First starter MEAN AS (5) is the danger. He has an extravagant action but sailed through heavy going to impressively win a recent Warwick Farm trial by an increasing margin. BESIDE THE OCEAN (8), by champion sire Zoustar, is a half sister to Golden Slipper winner Farnan and she ran very well on debut when second at Kensington. Drawn wide but that might be to her advantage given the very heavy track conditions. BET: Box quinella 5,8,9. KIMBERLEY SECRETS (1) has never missed a place in four previous first-up runs, winning twice, and she resumes here off two easy trial wins. Smart mare who handles soft tracks although she's a query on this testing track. She looked trained up for her return. MERGEILA (2) is a promising mare by unbeaten US triple crown winner Justify. She ran only eighth in a recent Rosehill trial but was held up in the straight and went to the line going half pace. CHIDIAC (4) has won four of her five starts and cruised home at Scone first-up last month. She has trialled well since and has a fitness edge over her two main rivals. SOUTHERN HEIRESS (7) has won both her starts and deserves consideration. BET: Box trifecta 1,2,4,7. PRIMA BELLA (4) is in a rich vein of form. She attacked the line strongly to win over the Warwick Farm 1000m course last start, handling the heavy 8 conditions with ease. She has won three of her four starts this campaign including a Newcastle win on a bottomless track. Superior mudlark and the one to beat. CAMBAR (7) showed promise winning his first three starts then had excuses with successive defeats over summer. Resuming off two impressive trial wins and he has won in heavy going. DESI EMPEROR (3) is also racing in very good form while SHALAA GOLD (9) has been improved by two runs back and handles these conditions. BET: PRIMA BELLA (4) to win, watch betting moves for CAMBAR (7). KAPAKIRI (2) was back in the field on the inside and held up for a run at the top of the straight before working home strongly to finish fifth, beaten a length at Kensington. Eye-catching first-up effort, fitter here, gets out to 1600m and James McDonald goes on. ISLAND DREAM (7) came off heels and charged home to win at Canterbury. Improving mare who handles wet tracks. FAIRWAY STAR (4) ran on well to win over the Warwick Farm 1600m course last start but the very heavy track is a concern. INVESTMENT (6) does enjoy these wet conditions but she is coming back slightly in trip. BET: KAPAKIRI (2) to win. SIGNOR TORTONI (4) won his maiden at Gosford, backed that up with a tough effort on a heavy track at Canterbury before going to Saturday grade where he ran third at Randwick. He was beaten last start by smart types Glorious Moments and Codetta and is well suited back in midweek grade. FORMAL DISPLAY (1) is an interesting runner. A two-time winner from seven starts in Ireland, he has shown plenty of speed in two recent barrier trials. ICEMAN (13) has only one win from 18 starts but he's racing consistently of late and handles these conditions. DIMITROV (7) has been competitive in two runs back and he did win over the Warwick Farm 1400m course at his third run in last campaign. BET: Box trifecta 1,4,7,13. METAPHORICALLY (3) jumped to the front, controlled the race and scored a comfortable win over La Roja and The Replicant at Canterbury last start. The minor placegetters have both come out and won since to frank the form. Metaphorically has drawn well and looks the one beat provided he handles the very heavy conditions. SESSIONS ROAD (4) comes off successive minor placings in Melbourne and he is a good wet-tracker. RINGAROSA (14) is another who handles wet tracks well and is working up to a win. O'INVINCIBLE (13) is also racing in good form but has a wide barrier to overcome.
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Quinton Narkle: Fremantle Dockers midfielder makes call to retire with immediate effect
Quinton Narkle has called time on his AFL career, with the midfielder addressing his Fremantle teammates on Tuesday morning of his decision to retire with immediate effect. It comes as the 27-year-old said he was walking away from the game with 'no regrets' after carving out a 59-game career across almost a decade at three different clubs. Narkle made two appearances for the Dockers earlier this year after being picked up in the pre-season supplemental selection period, most recently in the loss to St Kilda in May. 'I've been fortunate to play at Geelong, Port Adelaide and Fremantle, and spend time at Richmond and Essendon. All up, five clubs in three states, and every one of them gave me great experiences,' Narkle said. 'I've been part of some really strong teams that have enjoyed success, and while at times it was hard missing selection or being on the fringe, I have no regrets. 'I've met incredible people at every stop, many who will be lifelong friends.' The West Australian can reveal Narkle stepped away from the club last week to contemplate his future before deciding on the call to hang up the boots. Narkle began his career at Geelong after being taken with pick No.60 in the 2016 draft out of Perth. He played 41 games for the Cats, including eight in Geelong's 2022 premiership campaign, before being delisted at the end of that year. He was then recruited by Port Adelaide in the 2023 mid-season draft after solid form in Essendon's VFL program, playing 16 games for the Power before he was again cut and given a third chance at the Dockers. Narkle and his young family are set to relocate to the Northern Territory. 'Football gave me so much, but the best thing it gave me was meeting my partner Taylah while I was in Melbourne,' Narkle said. 'Now we've got two little girls who are only a year apart, and they've changed my perspective on life completely. 'Taylah and I will most likely move to Darwin, where she's from, and we'd love to raise our girls in a more relaxed lifestyle there. 'I've lived in three states, spent time across five clubs, and ticked off goals I'm proud of. Now it feels like the right time to start the next chapter.'
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘No regrets': Docker makes early call to hang up boots
Quinton Narkle has called time on his AFL career, with the midfielder addressing his Fremantle teammates on Tuesday morning of his decision to retire with immediate effect. It comes as the 27-year-old said he was walking away from the game with 'no regrets' after carving out a 59-game career across almost a decade at three different clubs. Narkle made two appearances for the Dockers earlier this year after being picked up in the pre-season supplemental selection period, most recently in the loss to St Kilda in May. 'I've been fortunate to play at Geelong, Port Adelaide and Fremantle, and spend time at Richmond and Essendon. All up, five clubs in three states, and every one of them gave me great experiences,' Narkle said. 'I've been part of some really strong teams that have enjoyed success, and while at times it was hard missing selection or being on the fringe, I have no regrets. 'I've met incredible people at every stop, many who will be lifelong friends.' The West Australian can reveal Narkle stepped away from the club last week to contemplate his future before deciding on the call to hang up the boots. Narkle in action against the Crows. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images Narkle began his career at Geelong after being taken with pick No.60 in the 2016 draft out of Perth. He played 41 games for the Cats, including eight in Geelong's 2022 premiership campaign, before being delisted at the end of that year. He was then recruited by Port Adelaide in the 2023 mid-season draft after solid form in Essendon's VFL program, playing 16 games for the Power before he was again cut and given a third chance at the Dockers. Narkle and his young family are set to relocate to the Northern Territory. Quinton Narkle ahead of the Indigenous All Stars clash earlier this year. Credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos / via Getty Images 'Football gave me so much, but the best thing it gave me was meeting my partner Taylah while I was in Melbourne,' Narkle said. 'Now we've got two little girls who are only a year apart, and they've changed my perspective on life completely. 'Taylah and I will most likely move to Darwin, where she's from, and we'd love to raise our girls in a more relaxed lifestyle there. 'I've lived in three states, spent time across five clubs, and ticked off goals I'm proud of. Now it feels like the right time to start the next chapter.'
