Knights go out with special win

“We’ve decided to pull the pin. It’s pretty emotional,” said Geoff Knight after Deus Ex won today’s Northern Southland Summer Cup at Ascot Park.

The fifth favourite got back early for regular pilot Matty Williamson before he made a lightning move and took up the leader’s role. He hung on to beat favourite Watch Me Now by a neck.

“He’s a good horse and I said to Matty don’t be unlucky.”

It was fitting that Williamson was the driver for the win.

“We’ve trained 250 odd winners and he’s driven over 200 of them for us. He’s been so loyal from the time he was a kid. He’s part of the family.”

Geoff started training in 1987 and had thirty six winners in his own right before Jude came into the partnership in 2010.

Their biggest winner was Pembrook’s Delight in the Group One Four Year Old Diamonds at Cambridge in 2012.

Geoff says he and Jude will carry on with the Rural Mail Run and are still breeding horses.

“We’re going to take life a bit easier. Matty’s going to train Deus Ex and a few of the others. Instead of sending out the bills we’re going to be paying them. I’m sure I’ll miss it, particularly the people, because the people are everything. I’m still on the board of Southern Harness and the Horseman’s Association. Jude’s good with it. She said it had to be my decision because it’s been my passion.”

Although Pembrook’s Delight holds a special place in the couple’s training career Deus Ex also rates highly.

“I’ve always said that this horse from the age of three could be the best horse I’ve trained. I don’t think I’ve had any other horses including Trojan and Pembrook’s Delight that could have done what he did today so that backs my judgement.”

And who knows they could be back at some stage.

“I’m not selling all my gear.”

Bruce Stewart