JUNORTOUN trainer Carla Innes-Goodridge says she rates her victory last week at Tabcorp Park Melton with Dragonfly as easily one of the most satisfying during her decades-long involvement in harness racing.
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The lightly-raced four-year-old mare broke through for her maiden win at start number eight in the opening race on last Friday night's program.
It capped an often bumpy journey to the racetrack for Dragonfly, who was bred by Innes-Goodridge, her husband Dean and son Todd, and has long been a work in progress due to an assortment of injuries and behavioural issues throughout her life.
"I never thought I would get her to the races with all the niggly problems she has had," she said.
"Her legs were a little bit funny when she was younger, so she just needed a lot of extra time in the paddock. She had her mother's legs, they were a little bit bent.
"Then trying to get her educated and trying to get her up to the mobile, she was shy.
"It was just a lot of little things that kept adding up.
"She's not nasty now, but she's a real diva and I'm too old to handle those types of horses now."
Dragonfly, the daughter of Skyvalley out of My Lady Posh, only debuted as a four-year-old in January this year.
Her first seven starts produced no wins or placings, with her best efforts a pair of fourths, hence she was sent around a $21 chance on Friday night.
Innes-Goodridge said despite the mare's form line, she had been happy with most of her previous runs.
"Except for Kilmore (two starts for a sixth and seventh), she can't seem to trot there," she said.
"Those set me back a little as I kept asking 'what's wrong with her'?
"But we've found a lot of trotters don't seem to be able to trot at Kilmore. I'm not sure if it's the surface, but as soon as we take her somewhere else, she's perfect."
Dragonfly, who was named after a winning horse mentioned in a Fawlty Towers episode, was brilliantly driven by Lisa Miles, who extended her unblemished record to two wins from two drives on Innes-Goodridge either trained or owned horses.
She previously won on the Innes-Goodridge-owned Morning Fawlty, who was trained by Simone Walker, about five years ago.
"She did a terrific job on Dragonfly - it definitely won't be four or five years in between drives again," Innes-Goodridge declared.
"We stick loyal with Ellen (Tomey) and we love her, and Lisa knows Ellen is our driver.
"But if I can't get Ellen, I'll put Lisa on for sure. She's a great horsewoman."
Innes-Goodridge has extra reason to be cheerful with her 75-rated trotter Zarem nearing a return to action following a recent trial.
The five-year-old last raced at Melton on May 1.
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