What a result for owner Stuart Locke-Hart and trainer Richard Yeates after Freedom Emma ran away with the £1,000 Pattinson Construction Tra-falgar Cup final on Saturday.

It was a timely boost for both as the owner has been ill for the past year or so, and Yeates's kennel has been badly hit with the loss of five of his best dogs through injuries, including 595m track record holder Bower Turbo.

However, for a few minutes after the success of Emma, having only her fourth race, the bad times were forgotten as the happy pair celebrated.

Most pundits at the track thought Emma was something special when she won her first two races, beating Crossness and Admiral Benbow posting 26.82 and 26.69 respectively.

The black bitch got caught on the run-in in her qualifier, but put the record straight on Saturday, making it three wins from four starts and has come a long way since a 27.73 trial in December.

It was hard to see anything beating Droopys Quinta pre-race, but as I wrote in this column last week, anything can happen on the night, and happen it did to the favourite.

Quinta stumbled at the start, only to run on well for third spot – if she had broken level who knows?

Quinta was 21 spots behind at the sectional, but only 16 adrift at the line.

Yeates is now aiming Freedom Emma at the Ladbroke Monmore Puppy Derby which gets under way next month.

The win rounded off an excellent night's racing with another good crowd topping 1,000.