With a return to the sport of harness racing James Sills, as an owner, had it all at the Tamworth harness meeting last Thursday when his mare Emm Aye Dee won the Select Autoglass North West Three-Year-Old Classic.
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"That would probably be the biggest race that I have won" remarked Sills after the win.
Emm Aye Dee certainly had a team effort from the stables to ensure the win after Moonbi reinsman Dean Chapple was engaged by Sawyers Gully trainer Brendon Flaherty.
"I haven't had many wins" said Sills as Emm Aye Dee headed back to scale "thanks to Dean and Brendon and I mustn't forget Renai, the strapper, it has been fantastic".
"We use to come up here as kids when my Uncle was racing and I saw this race on the program. I spoke with Brendon and I said let's go - if just for the Uncle (the late John Carroll)".
"Brendon said we don't have much luck up there (Tamworth), and I said that is going to change" added Sills.
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For reinsman Dean Chapple he had time to see the race unfolding in front of him after commencing from the eight barrier with Emm Aye Dee.
Race favourite, A Gift From Heaven (Guy Chapple) broke stride on the first turn whilst the Sam Ison trained and driven Eccentric raced up to challenge Tiger Courage (Anthony Varga) in the lead before Chapple settled three back on the outside running line.
Eccentric placed a gap on the field from the 600 mark with Chapple giving chase.
There was no splitting the two pacers Eccentric and Emm Aye Dee as they raced into the home straight on the final occasion as they engaged in a solid battle to the finish line.
"I was pretty happy with the speed up front and when I pulled out, I thought I would go straight past them but Sam Ison's horse (Eccentric) plugged on really well".
Emm Aye Dee gained the win by a head over Eccentric and Kanye Crusader (Richard Williams) a further 5 metres away third.
"I only met the owner, James, about a month ago when I won on the mare at Newcastle. It is great that James has brought a nice little horse and he is going to have a lot of fun with this one" added Chapple.
"The way she raced last week she went really good and I probably expected her to go past them" added Chapple with Emm Aye Dee coming into the 1980 metre race after finishing second to Madison Louise at Newcastle.
"I saw Sam's horse trial really well on Tuesday night and I thought if he has an easy trip, he would probably beat me but this mare only does what she has to and I have noticed that with her runs".
For trainer Brendon Flaherty it was also a moment to value after the win of Emm Aye Dee.
"I am stoked" was the reaction from Flaherty after the win.
"It was good for the owner - he had been out of the game for about 20 years and got back in and brought her - he is stoked with the win and so am I".
"She (Emm Aye Dee) worked up beautiful for the race and I was a bit concerned as I have never had any luck up here (Tamworth) - I have had some seconds and thirds and never won a race".
