Hearts were heavy and emotions ran high as Freedom Emma achieved her late owner’s dream by landing the £6,000 William Hill Oaks classic in brilliant style at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
It was a lifetime ambition of the late Stuart Locke-Hart to see one of his dogs win the bitches classic, and it was left to his son, Ed, to realise that dream and pick up the gleaming gold trophy.
An emotional Ed said: “My heart is pumping like mad. This is what dad always wanted. He’ll be up there watching and he will be very happy.”
It was the first time an Oxford-trained dog had won the big race since the late Jim Morgan's Perth Pat landed the 1970 Oaks, 40 years ago.
Trainer Richard Yeates, who was responsible for Jolly Poacher’s unique treble at Oxford, had tears in his eyes saying: “It was heartbreaking last year to be beaten in a photo-finish, but I am so proud of her.
“It was an absolutely fantastic night, and we won the puppy cup as well.
“It is great for Oxford as well as our kennel, but we came back down to earth as we had to feed the puppies when we got home.
“Emma seemed to have known what she had done as she was full of it on Wednesday morning.”
As the traps went up, Emma missed her customary fast break, but with favourite Shaws Dilemma meeting trouble at the first bend, she picked speed on the outside and showed blistering middle pace down the back straight.
Threatened briefly by former Oxford trainer Paul Garland's Snowy Skye, she pulled away to win in style by half a length in 28.68.
Yeates’s earlier success with Aherlow Shaw (7-1) in the WilliamHill.com Betting puppy race, must have been an omen for the kennel and Oxford stalwarts Mick Lowe and Pete Dawson came away as happy as their trainer.
There was no luck, however, for the Nick Colton pair of Shelbourne Cheri and Rebel Ace, and Bob Hannan's Marinas Rocky in their races.
Meanwhile, veteran Brickfield Class just loves Oxford.
Taking in his 58th open race on Thursday, he trotted up for his 14th victory.
It's hats off to grader Gary Baiden in the A1 on Saturday when the bookmakers were left scratching their heads.
Winner Pats Cash was a short head victor followed by short head, short head and neck!
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