USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
UK / IRE
Bernie Winkle (Rock N Roll Heaven) stepped out onto the harness racing racetrack for the 300th occasion at Mildura and duly saluted in the race named in his honour.
The Congratulations Bernie Winkle 300th Race Pace was the highlight at the meeting and Victoria’s most durable pacer didn’t let his legion of fans down.
Attempting to notch up his 41st win at the Sunraysia circuit, Bernie Winkle ($3.60) settled at the rear of the field, and as he has done so many times before, launched a powerful finishing finale from a three wide trail to score from the $1.80 favorite Sahara Tiger.
"THE OLD KING OVER THE NEW KING!"
Bernie Winkle defeats Sahara Tiger and wins the Congratulations Bernie Winkle 300th Race Pace! That's his 41st success at Mildura! What an old marvel! pic.twitter.com/V8ZZ0qw0Hi— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) September 8, 2023
Ellen Tormey, who has partnered Bernie Winkle to 23 wins, admitted she had doubts about a fairy-tale result inside the last lap of the race.
“They went too hard down the back to pull out and I thought that I had left my run too late but he just put his head down in the straight and kept coming at the leader Sahara Tiger,” Tormey said.
Tormey believes the 10-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven is racing as well as ever.
“He wasn’t 100 per cent for a while there but in his last couple of starts he has felt like his old self and I have no doubt he wants to be there out racing,” she said.
Tormey said opposing drivers have tried to make it difficult for the Mildura track record holder of the most number of wins.
“Up until a couple of years ago I would always get going and pull out in the back straight but now the other drivers put the foot down the back and I have to leave my run a bit later,” she said.
Bernie Winkle, who is raced by Eric and Heather Anderson and trained by their daughter Julie, has amassed more than $660,000 in prize money from his 63 wins and 81 placings.
“He waits at the gate each day to be worked- he just loves being a racehorse,” she said.
“Most people would love to have a horse half as good as him.”
For complete race results, click here.
by John Dunne, for Harnesslink
