Australian based jockeys, with James McDonald and Rachel King, leading the way, are now impacting on the world scene comparable to the glory decade when Scobie Breasley and George Moore were the most wanted in the world, supported by Ron Hutchinson, Bill Williamson as well as Neville Sellwood in France.
Zac Lloyd, only 21 and a talent yet to peak, is waiting to join the fray. Obviously a stint in Europe under the Godolphin banner would be beneficial for him and Hong Kong, too, will beckon.
Like J-Mac, from New Zealand, and King, a Pom, Lloyd has elsewhere connections being South African bred but we’ll claim him.
Even without the heavy artillery of J-Mac, King and Nash Rawiller, absent, the five winners of a nonchalant Lloyd at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday was more exceptional than GOOD.
“This is the first time I’ve ridden five winners,” Lloyd, exclaimed as though it will be an every season occurrence.
Given no real hype by the Australian Turf Club, Hobartville Stakes day, a meeting of some prominence for the upcoming autumn, was memorable because of Lloyd and the highly talented Broadsiding taking the Hobartville.
Maybe Rosehill hardly matched Caulfield for saddle depth and experience, but Lloyd shone in pressure situations, worthy of best down south.
Consider: Blake Shinn, Mark Zahra, Damian Lane, Craig Williams, Jordan Childs and the emerging topliner Ethan Brown had winners in an era when jockeys travel far and fast, emphasised by J-Mac who returns to Randwick on Saturday after recent stints with Romantic Warrior, second, in the Saudi Cup followed by Hong Kong on Sunday.
King, though, remains in Japan after being the first female to win a Group One in Tokyo recently, prompting the suggestion whether she would have come so far remaining in the United Kingdom and not being fine-tuned with the Gai Waterhouse at Tulloch Lodge.
Alas, due to suspension, Lloyd will be absent from Randwick on Saturday. What are the odds about him going abroad before his next five winners on a reasonably major Sydney program?
While Lloyd was riding high at Rosehill Kerrin McEvoy was again the whipping boy over Chris Waller’s Wodeton going down in the Silver Slipper.
Navigation on Wodeton, the $2.20 favourite, was a mess: began smooth, went back to the tail, sent forward to midfield, never looked like winning and finished third. BAD indeed.
This followed two eye-catching Randwick defeats by McEvoy a week earlier on Via Sistina (2.10) and Joliestar (2.05), prepared by Chris Waller.
To what degree are the riding instructions in top events harnessing McEvoy, who had a successful Canterbury double on Friday night?
It was no secret from the stable, Waller’s Wodeton was not going forward early in the Silver Slipper.
Wodeton looked superb, certainly more forward in condition than West Of Swindon who beat him home. Comparable to his stablemate, Switzerland, in the Lightning at Flemington a week earlier, Wodeton should have done better: beaten a half-length and not over two to justify the high opinion I had of him.
Waller, an all-time great, is satisfied with both. Maybe I’m a hard marker. It could be wiser to go with the master craftsman at the training art.
The 46 points scored against the Rabbits by St George last Saturday was indeed UGLY but horse and man barrier trials can be misleading.
Take the filly Bel Merci, strongly fancied in Silver Slipper. Previously she trialled like a gazelle at Kembla Grange but was more dromedary on Saturday.
Con, a rabid Rabbitoh supporter, kept me informed at Rosehill, regarding the trend of play during the South Sydney – Saints trial, and had to be heartened by the “only a trial” aspect.
Watching the replay, I am enthusiastic about our Jai Gray, Jamie Humphres, and Liam La Blanc. Player management required. Enter Wayne Bennett. Hopefully he has a good vet, looking at the broken downs on the bench last Saturday.
Meanwhile for the Swans, Joel Amartey in a recent Tramway Oval trial went like Bel Merci in the Kembla Grange heat.
Hopefully he can take his brilliance consistently to race day and be the prime presence he has promised, and not a flash in the pan.
New coach Dean Cox will give the Swans more grit, according to my West Australian adviser, Ian Green.
2 Responses
Love your work Max. Always entertaining. Thought mention of Australians overseas could have included Bill Pyers and Pat Glennon. Glennon is still only Australian jockey to have ridden winners of an English Derby, Prix d’la Arc de Triomphe and Melbourne Cup.
Graham,
Remiss of me to overlook Bill Pyers, undoubtedly in the top bracket of Australian jockeys to succeed in Europe. I didn’t see much of him when I was living in the UK. Nor Pat Glennon, another who did very well , stationed in Ireland like Garnet Bougoure, also highly regarded. Togo Johnston, too, was not mentioned because he was before my time and Gary Moore, exceptional and came later. However being in the north, Darlington, County Durham, for a period I did avail myself of the Aussies, Russ Maddock and Val Faggotter, who had a considerable edge on the opposition, particularly on my track, Catterick Bridge.
Cheers
Max P