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Former New Zealand pacer Earl Of Pembroke (Washington VC) chalked up his first country cup harness racing success when he saluted in the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup.
The Julie Douglas trained pacer was sent out a well-supported $2.80 favorite on the strength of his close second behind the in form Invitation Only in the Cobram Cup at his previous start.
Jack Laugher sent Earl Of Pembroke around the field to sit parked with two laps to travel however he managed to secure cover for the last 1400 metres when the second elect Platinum Stride ($3.50) did likewise.
Earl Of Pembroke pulled out three wide at the 400 metre mark and the son of Washington VC finished resolutely to get up and score by a metre and a half from Ubetcha Tigerpie.
THE EARL WITH A PEARL!
Another country cup for dynamic duo Julie Douglas (trainer) and Jack Laugher (driver) as Earl Of Pembroke claims the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup, part of a terrific Sunday celebration at Maryborough.
Congrats!! pic.twitter.com/BepM039BhC— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 28, 2024
Douglas said Earl Of Pembroke was sourced from New Zealand by the stable five months ago.
“He was one of two or three we got at the time as he fitted the bill as a three-year-old who hadn’t done a lot at the time, but we liked what we saw,” she said.
Douglas said the stable was quietly confident of victory given the pacer’s effort at Cobram three weeks ago.
“It was a big run at Cobram because he wasn’t 100 per cent going into the race and they tested him in the lead and he was brave in defeat,” she said.
Earl Of Pembroke has now six of his 12 starts since arriving in Australia and Douglas predicts a bright future for the four-year-old.
“He’s probably the best horse we have in work at the moment,” she said.
“He is just so versatile in that you can chase him out of the gate and then he’ll drop the bit or you can just let him flop out and take a sit.”
For complete race results, click here.
by John Dunne, for Harnesslink
