Clint Lundholm paid tribute to his late grandfather John on Friday following Farewell Julia’s victory at Mudgee.
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John Lundholm, originally of Coonamble, passed away on the weekend and what followed was a huge outpouring of tributes from the local racing industry.
Clint was one of many at the funeral at Coonamble racecourse on Thursday and then a day later, during Mudgee’s Showcase meeting, he paid tribute to his grandfather in the best way possible.
“It’s been a very tough week and this is very emotional actually, a little win,” he told Sky’s Thoroughbred Central after Farewell Julia’s victory.
“I know he’s up there watching over us and we’ll still keep training winners and keep making him as proud as we can.
“It’s a big effort by the team too, it’s been a tough couple of weeks but they’ve really put in and we’ve got the win.”
The win was an impressive one with Farewell Julia finishing a $17 victor in the Wild Oats Showcase Benchmark 65 Handicap (1400m).
With jockey Andrew Banks in the saddle, the six-year-old settled midfield early on as Megawatt ($21) led the way.
Even as the field approached the bend she was battling for sixth but Banks peeled wide as they entered the straight, chasing down Husswick ($7) and Tycoon Flutter ($3.80 favourite).
It wasn’t a certainty from there but with 200m to go Farewell Julia lifted and edged out Tycoon Flutter by a head while Dane De Lago ($5) was third.
“She’s a funny little mare,” Lundholm said.
“She gets up in the weights and can’t carry it but she always tries her best and today when the track was hard I thought it night go our way.”