“I was actually thinking of her all day on Saturday. Two things Mum hated was the colour green, and people saying ‘Good Luck’.
“I think I got maybe 200 ‘Good Lucks’ today (Saturday) and yesterday. Mum used to follow me everywhere. People always saw us together. In many ways this victory was for her too."
Both Woodmansey and her driver, John Cremin, were still coming to grips with their first ever Group One victories – both at the age of 56.
“It just goes to show it’s never too late. This is the best filly I’ve ever driven. Top say I’ve driven better would be an insult to this horse. She is a credit to Anna and Wayne (Honan – owner/breeder). This is the highlight of my career,” Cremin said.
Queensland’s quickest ever two-year-old filly (mile rate: 1:53.2) showed immense courage and ability to win Saturday’s 1660m feature pace.
Cremin was in the one-one and was then left parked for the remaining 900m. But Pelosi out-stayed the quality field to win by five metres from the ‘death seat’.
“She relaxed when she sat outside the leader and she was always travelling within herself. It didn’t bother me sitting there with her. She’s such a versatile racehorse and can only get better with age,” said Cremin.
Woodmansey, although nervous right up until the start of the delayed race, said she too wasn’t fazed about Pelosi being left parked.
“She went into the race as fit as I could get her and I knew sitting parked wouldn’t pose to many problems. John and I went though the many scenarios that could have happened in the race and sitting parked was one of them," she said.
“’Dolly’ (nickname) has come through the race very well. She’s eating up everything and was running around in her paddock yesterday. It still hasn’t quite sunk in yet but as the days go on it is becoming more believable."
She said Pelosi would now target the Group One $125,000 Alabar NSW Breeders Challenge Final at Tabcorp Park, Menangle on June 30.
“We will head to Newcastle for the heats in a couple of weeks and then hopefully the final. Her Mum, For Dear Life (by Life Sign) won the inaugural Breeders Challenge. After that there’s not much for her, so I’ll probably spell her," she said.
“I think she will make a lovely 3-year-old, even better than what she is now."
That’s some statement because Pelosi set the best mile rate ever run by a filly in this State at Albion Park on April 26. She won that day by an increasing 23m.
Her mile rate on Saturday was 1:54.1 and gross time: 1:57.7. Her sectionals were 27.4, 29.8, 28.9, and28.82. It was the daughter of American Ideal's fourth win in five starts and she's now banked $166,486 in stakes.
“I just love her, she is like my daughter. My horses always get kisses and cuddles and brushes. I just can’t believe I have such a wonderful pacer in my stable," she said.
“I’m so proud of her. She is an Equine Flair ambassador and that is quite something in itself for a standardbred. That was my first Group One starter, and I can’t believe we won,” said Woodmansey, who for the last 30 years has worked in the office at Beenleigh State High School.
“It was a dream come true."
Meanwhile the Victorian (Terang) mother-son combo of Margaret and Jason Lee have combined with Jilliby Nitro to win the Group One $350,000 APG Final for the 2yo colts and geldings at Albion Park - in track record time. The Bettor's Delight colt paced a new 1:52.6 mile rate.
"He's a real champ and has been one of my favourites since day dot. Mum has done an awesome job with the horse, even though he's a pretty easy horse to train," she said.
"He will tell us what's next. Mum and all my uncles will sit around and talk about it. Whether we go and drink from the well again will be up to them," Lee (Jason) said immediately after the race.
Jilliby Nitro led all the way pacing the 1660m in 1:56.2. his sectionals were 27.9, 28.9, 27.4, and 28.4. It was the Bettors Delight black colt's fourth win in five starts and he has now amassed $210,095 in stakes.