When Blue Dixie’s storming stretch run resulted in victory, the filly’s trainer Gary Subratie could not hold back the emotions, as the race Blue Dixie had won was the inaugural running of the Errol “Big Sub” Memorial Trophy, a race which honours the memory of Gary’s father.

“The emotions were simply too much; it was like, ‘Is this really true?’ I wanted to win this race named after my father so much, it is even better than winning a Derby.

“Winning the first race named after my father, with family and friends here to celebrate generate precious, precious moments,” Gary Subratie said with tears freely pouring from his eyes.

The victory by Blue Dixie confirmed her growing status as a horse of worth, as she got the better of Typewriter andPinelope by half a length in a driving finish to the wire in the Open Allowance event over 1,600 metres (eight furlongs).

“The performance was excellent. I mean she beat two really good horses going a mile. I know she would like the distance and she is improving.

“The plan coming into the race was to sit tight and don’t get too anxious with her, but rather to try and relax her.

“I didn’t like the one draw, but she handled it well and she did everything the jockey asked of her,” Subratie said.

Blue Dixie, under Paul Francis, covered the distance in quick 1:37.0 minutes behind splits of 23.2, 46.3 and 1:10.2 minutes.