Emotions spilled over at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Tom Nally saluted the heavens with his whip as Miss Knowall crossed the line in front of her seven rivals in the 1730m Vale Richie Polak Pace.
It was a heartwarming result in the event dedicated to the life of former outstanding junior reinsman Richard Polak, who died aged 40 earlier in the week.
Miss Knowall, the $5 third favourite, burst straight to the front from barrier five before setting the pace and winning by a length from $3.10 chance Icy Cold, who had raced in the breeze and had gained a narrow ascendancy on the home turn.
Miss Knowall is trained in York by Maryann White, Polak’s partner and his carer since he tragically suffered serious head injuries in September 2008 when he was driving a pacer in work in York.
This resulted in Polak being in a coma and in intensive care for several months, and after that being confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak or communicate with White and members of his loving family.
Polak, who drove 85 winners, is well remembered as the part-owner with his long-time friend Ryan Bell of Shinzig Buller, a pacer they bought for $6000 as a yearling and was a 14/1 chance when Kade Howson drove him to victory in the Golden Nugget in December 2008.
Friday night was an emotional time for Bell, who trained a double, with Liam Elliott scoring with Franco Encore ($6.20) in the 2130m Happy New Year Pace, and Wicked Hustler ($1.60) in the 2130m Food Vans Pace.
For the 55-year-old White, Miss Knowall’s victory was her 298TH as a trainer and her first in a metro-class event since Kyle Harper was successful with Always Changin, the rank outsider at $229.30 who beat Majestic Reale by a half-head at Gloucester Park on September 5 last year.
Always Changin’s win was White’s first metro-class success since nine-year-old gelding Open Class beat Oscar Riley by a half-head on October 1, 2010. And before that, her previous city win was with $31 outsider On The Beach, driven by Polak when he led and beat Weneeda Girl by a neck on March 24, 2006.
Nally was overjoyed at Miss Knowall’s victory, saying: “This is really special to win for Maryann who has supported me since I arrived from New Zealand twelve months ago.”
Miss Knowall, who was a $101 outsider in a 2130m event at Gloucester Park two nights earlier when she raced without cover and faded to finish last behind Ambitsiya, set the pace and won over 1684m at Pinjarra at her two previous outings.
She is by Fly Like An Eagle and is the third foal out of Rich And Spoilt mare Richeeza, who earned $20,338 from three wins and six placings from 33 starts. Miss Knowall now has had 42 starts for seven wins, five placings and $53,256.
