“I felt Steph’s presence in the sulky with me”

TO SAY emotions were at a premium in Cranbourne last night fails to explain the magnitude of the situation.

With Platinum Jive delivering a victory straight from heaven, there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen among every person connected with the mare.

Having her first start since April, Platinum Jive’s outing was also the first trip to the track for driver and part-owner William Pace since his wife, Stephanie, lost her brave battle with cancer.

Stephanie, 35, passed away from Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma on August 13 following a four-and-a-half year struggle.

So rare, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma affects less than four in a million people.

Mother of their four children Courtney, 6, and four-year-olds Jasmine, Jordan and Kayla, Stephanie was diagnosed while pregnant with the triplets.

“To win first-up like that was amazing, but also very difficult,” Pace explained. “As thrilled as I was, I also kind of felt guilty as we’re celebrating a win when Steph’s not with us, but she would want us to keep moving forward.

“Our kids stayed with my mum and she showed me a video of them jumping up and down screaming as we won, which was wonderful.”

Settled towards the tail of the field from barrier five, Platinum Jive was blocked for a run and in a seemingly impossible position leaving the back straight.

Suddenly the field parted ways allowing the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven to dash through the middle of the track to score by metre from Isthisthereallife, with Kosimo a metre away third.

“Around the last turn I pretty much had nowhere to go and was about to take her four deep when the gaps just opened for her to go through,” Pace said. “I felt Steph’s presence in the sulky with me up straight when things opened up.

“I’ve got no doubt Steph smiled down on us and paved the way for us.”