Twenty-two years after legendary horseman Jim Barker piloted Jolaura in the Victoria Oaks Final his granddaughter Jackie is out to emulate the feat – and dreams of going a step further.
“I think I’d be lost for words if I was able to win it,” said the 23-year-old rising star of the sulky.
Tonight at Ballarat when Good Faith and Barker step out in the second heat of the Victoria Oaks (Race 2 at 7.13pm) the dream will suddenly feel a possible reality.
Barker was not long two years old when Jolaura – a filly Jim always felt could have been his best horse had her legs been sound – won her Oaks heat for “pop”.
Heartbreakingly, Jolaura galloped as an 8-1 shot in the final, eventually finishing down the track behind hot favourites Tailamade Lombo and Under Cover Lover.
“When you’re so passionate about what you do and you do it every day, it’s not really a job, it’s a lifestyle,” Barker said of her trots journey to date.
“You’re always aiming for those big wins in those bigger races, but whether we get there or we don’t, the ride (Good Faith) is taking us on is something special.”
Good Faith is unbeaten in three runs since taking up residence at the Barker property in Hamilton and started carrying the famous black with orange diamond silks.
Trained by Jim, driven by Jackie and owned by a big group of stable loyalists, Good Faith carries enormous sentimental support.
Her stable name is ‘Miki’, in honour of Jackie’s best friend, jockey Mikaela Claridge, who tragically lost her life in August as a result of a training accident.
‘Miki’ and Barker even ride in a striking new sulky with Claridge’s name emblazoned down one side and Jackie’s on the other.
“She’s very special and she’s really lovely, this filly. She’s just got the sweetest personality, she doesn’t kick or bite, she’s so quiet and well-educated,” Barker said.
“I was lucky enough these people (the owners) trusted me and supported me to help get her. Most of them have had horses with us before, but never anywhere near as good as she’s turned out to be.”
With about 30 horses on the property, the Barker operation is a big family affair. Jackie and her pop, dad Rod, mum Liz, sister Stacey, cousin Chris, her nan “who keeps us all fed and has the most important job”, and Bev, who looks after the feed and horses’ routine while Jackie and co clock up the kilometres at the races.
“When the sun comes up and when it goes down, we’re still working horses,” Jackie said.
It is all shared work with one key exception, according to Jackie: “100 per cent I don’t let anyone else drive (Good Faith). I get her out of the box, put her away and make sure everything goes right. I really look after her like a champion because she’s certainly the best horse I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
Pictures (from top): Jackie Barker, Good Faith (AKA Miki) and Jim Barker at their Hamilton property. Filly Good Faith in the stalls with Jackie Barker's race sulky attached.