Jokers Grin has last laugh with victory in The Quokka
Jokers Grin became the first West Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5m Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
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.
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'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
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