When the harness racing trainer of Followthewind, Rodney Ashwood, recommended to the owners of the horse that they should consider sending the five-year-old mare to Melbourne to try and win an M0 there was no hesitation.
Owners Barry Cooper and Jamie Cockshutt took the advice on board and soon after the mare was booked to travel interstate to be prepared by Kate Hargreaves.
At Melton last Saturday night Followthewind delivered what her Tasmanian trainer had expected by winning an MO and on A. G. Hunter Cup night, one of the biggest meetings on the Victorian calendar.
And it ended up being a boon for Tasmania with El Major, a Tasmanian-owned entire, running second to make it a Tasmanian quinella, although it was much to the chagrin of punters who went El Major around the $1.80 favourite while Followthewind paid $21.10.
For Cockshutt and Cooper it was one of their most memorable moments since forming their business partnership six years ago.
Followthewind drew gate eight on the inside of the second row which was a perfect draw given the logical leader El Major started from the pole position courtesy of a scratching.
El major led easily but driver Alex Ashwood had Followthewind travelling sweetly on the leader's back throughout until they entered the home straight where the passing lane came into play.
Followthewind sprinted quickly and went on to defeat El Major by 4.4 metres and she recorded a mile rate over the 1720-metre journey of 1.51.9 which is the fastest by a mare anywhere in Australia over the trip this season.
The owners were unsuccessful in getting the mare in foal this season which has proven to be a blessing in disguise.
The best mile rate she recorded in Tasmania was 1.59.5 as a two-year-old.
Followthewind's owners will leave the mare with Hargreaves and her life partner, talented former Tasmanian reinsman Alex Ashwood, who is the mare's former trainer's son.
Peter Staples