By Tony Megahey
Enduring fire, floods, coronavirus and suspension Barbara Joseph, a TAB Highway original, is celebrating a phenomenal 45-year training career.
Recent seasons have been infinitely the toughest of Barb’s racing lifetime but she never ever considered retirement and survived with the resilience of an outback barbed wire fence.
And after an enforced absence, Barb is represented at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for a TAB $75.000 Highway with dual winning mare She’s All In, an outsider ($23 TAB fixed), for in-form apprentice Cejay Graham.
The Team Snowden lightweight claims an appealing 3kg off the five-year-old mare’s 54kg in a class 3, 1500m episode.
She’s All In has a decisive pull in the weights after dominant recent wins at Queanbeyan and the Sapphire Coast.
Barb and her training partners, sons Paul and Matthew, are finally enjoying a resurgence with multiple winners in recent weeks.
That's followed the extended loss of meetings where winners, prizemoney and new clients started to dry as certainly as in the drought before coronavirus struck. Just never ending adversity for the Joseph stable and the entire regional industry.
She's All In wins at Sapphire Coast on October 29
“We just had to ride out the bad times and all the destruction - I love the horses, they’ve been my life, my boys, and all our loyal clients,” Barbara explained.
“What everybody went through in the south was heartbreaking.
"I went to my first meeting at Sapphire in months since Covid. At my age it was too big a risk."
Joseph said she won't be coming to Sydney just yet, so Matt will be accompanying the horse to Rosehill.
“She’s come up super this prep. When mares strike form they generally hold it, she’s got a big weight drop and her wins have been strong,” Barb enthused.
"She’s a Casino Prince so she’ll run out the 1500m and, importantly, she handles all conditions, she’s won in heavy. And the little girl we’ve got on is really capable.
“We claimed because this mare is an easy ride, lovely natured and she can race on pace which is important in a big field.
“The boys saw (Cejay) win at Kembla and wanted her on this mare. Her father Peter was a top rider and her brother rode as well.
“Keith Dryden is the one to beat (Wichita Warrior). It’s from a strong stable and Keith has placed it where it can win.”
In a capacity field, Wichita Warrior is favourite in a wide betting race.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Gift meeting at Rosehill