Random river swim a twist in winning racetrack return

Not too many racehorses take it upon themselves to swim across a river – and even fewer return from four years in the harness racing wilderness to win a race.

But seven-year-old mare Double Joey (Roll With Joe) knows her own mind and has never been one to follow the conventional path.

Bred to pace, Double Joey decided from the beginning that trotting was more to her liking – and, as she would later demonstrate when she swam a river to reach a back paddock of her choosing, she has a habit of doing things her own way.

On Saturday night (August 8), the unconventional squaregaiter completed a remarkable comeback at Globe Derby, trotting faultlessly through driving rain to give Mallala husband-and-wife team Frank and Gaita Pullicino a memorable win.

Gaita, who also owns the mare, said Double Joey’s return to the winner’s circle had been a long time coming.

“We originally bought her (from Victoria) to run her in the three-year-old Trotters Oaks. We paid good money for her after her Victorian form,” Pullicino said.

Double Joey was from the Emma Stewart-Clayton Tonkin barn, and in her two-year-old season had finished sixth in the Aldabaran Breeders Crown Final (behind the likes of Just A Bit Touchy, Aldebararn Vera and Tough Love) and in just a handful of three-year-old starts had recorded a strong Bendigo win in 2022.

“But not long after arriving at our place she contracted a very bad virus,” Pullicino said.

“We put her out for a spell, and while she was spelling she decided to cross the Light River, that runs through our property – she ended up in our back paddock on the other side,” she said.

“She swam across the river and went up a steep incline to get into the paddock over there – we think she’s half mountain goat!

“We just left her there with the intention of getting her back into work, but as time passed she more or less got forgotten about until recently.”

But after spending almost four years away from the racetrack – including plenty of time living quietly in a paddock she effectively chose for herself – she is finally beginning to repay the Pullicinos’ patience.

Double Joey returned to the racetrack in May this year and last Saturday night was sent out an $8 chance at Globe Derby in the seventh start of her comeback.

But the lengthy absence from racing hasn’t dimmed her ability. Gaita allowed the mare to find her feet and balance up before pressing forward, and once in front Double Joey travelled strongly. Turning for home, she put the issue beyond doubt, powering clear of her rivals to score by six metres.

Watch the replay here: https://www.harness.org.au/racing/2026-08-08/globe-derby-park/GD080826/meeting/results

“She’s taken a few runs to come back into fitness, but she should be very consistent and a handy earner for the future.”

Adding another twist to Double Joey’s story is her strong pacing-bred background.

Sired by champion pacing stallion Roll With Joe, Double Joey is from the Rocknroll Hanover pacing mare Rock Two Times. Her half-sister Yareckon Im Sweet, by Sweet Lou, has won 12 races in Tasmania and earned more than $100,000, while half-brother, the Lazarus gelding Lonestar Warrior, is also a pacer with a record of three wins.

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink