Just weeks after tasting the bitterness of a short-margin defeat in a Group One, jockey George Rooke is savouring the sweetness of scoring his first elite-level success over the weekend.

The expat Englishman thought he had nailed his first Group One victory aboard Affirmative Action in last month’s New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, but the photo finish revealed his stablemate Romanoff got the nod.

Rooke was once again caught in a short-margin struggle aboard the Stephen Marsh-trained Provence in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham, and had an agonising wait to hear the judge’s call as a result of a malfunction with the photo finish camera.

“It was very nerve-racking because two weeks before I learnt my lesson,” Rooke said, referring to Affirmative Action’s defeat. “It was very close that day and I thought I had won, and I was devastated (when I didn’t).

“The camera not working wasn’t ideal for a Group One race (on Saturday), they said the software seemed to fail. It was a painful wait, but we got the right result.”

The victory fulfilled a lifelong ambition for Rooke, who moved to New Zealand last year in search of further opportunities.

“It was my first Group One, so I am over the moon,” he said. “It has always been a lifetime goal for me. It is what we do it for and why we get up at the crack of dawn.

“I had two stakes winners in England, it is just very competitive and hard to get on the good horses. Over here there is a bit more opportunity and I have put in the hard work, and the trainers and owners have always supported me since I have been here. It is just nice to get that Group One, the one everyone wants.”

While Rooke’s day ended on a high, having also taken out the last race aboard the Robert Wellwood and Roger James-trained Foreverintime, the start was a complete contrast.

He was dislodged from Atkins during the preliminary in race three and had to undergo a head injury assessment before being declared to resume riding at the meeting.

“The day didn’t start off that well, I had a fall and got stood down for one race,” he said. “I was beaten on two favourites and it wasn’t going too well, but I won the last two races, so it all turned around.”

Rooke is hoping he can continue his winning momentum through the remainder of the season, particularly over the busy summer period.

“I am looking forward to what Provence, Affirmative Action and a few others can do through the rest of the season,” he said. “Now that the weather is coming good, the racing is coming and the money is coming, hopefully I can have a really good summer.”

Rooke is enjoying his time in New Zealand and sees himself staying long-term.

“I have been here just over a year now,” he said. “I hit the ground running and did really well when I started. The lifestyle, the weather, the people, everything has just been brilliant, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”