Christine and Alan Proctor may have achieved their life’s ambition but it is back to work for their truimphant charge Bessy Boo.
The Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic Final winner (pictured, far right) is among the nominations for the Pat Ambrosoli Appreciation Stakes (520m) at Wentworth Park this Saturday night.
It has been a memorable few days for the Proctors, who achieved their first Group 1 victory in more than four decades of training with their dog's victory last Saturday night.
Christine is still on cloud nine with the success but said it now business as usual for the Londonderry-based couple.
“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with calls and text messages,” she said.
“That’s the thing though. You can’t celebrate because you are thinking about box draws and what will happen (this Saturday).
“We are still elated (but) you just get on with it.”
After finishing fifth in her heat on June 7, Bessy Boo was among the reserves for her semi-final.
She earned a late chance after scratching and finished runner-up in a high-calibre semi-final on June 14 – as a $28 shot - to secure a final placing.
Alan wasn't happy that his dog was pulled out of another race as he thought the semi-final field would be much too powerful.
“My husband was spewing when he got pulled out of the race,” Christine said. “We didn’t think he had much of a chance against (the likes of) Hooksy and Stilton Blue.
“I thought it would be beautiful to run a placing in the final. To win was amazing.
“I could hardly breathe afterwards, I was so excited.”
Bessy Boo will start from box three and faces a strong field in this Saturday’s race.
He will be inside Jason Mackay’s Zipping Tarn (Box 4), who has won four of her first seven starts.
Consistent Aurora Girl, who has placed on 22 of her 31 starts and won at Wentworth Park over 520m last month, is in box seven.
No matter what happens this Saturday, Proctor is happy she and her husband have achieved their dreams of a Group 1 win.
“Alan always said we’ll fall off the perch before winning a Group One,” she said with a smile.
“We’ve had dogs for 43 years and made a lot of big finals, but to get a Group race is a big achievement."
Ten races are on the card at Wentworth Park and action start at 7.30pm.
For Wentworth Park fields, form and expert tips, click here.
