THE prospect of riding some top jumpers from Patrick Ryan’s stable this jumping season proved a strong lure for underrated jumps jockey Darryl Horner to shift to Warrnambool.
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Horner, 25, joined forces with the Ryan-trained I’ll’ava’alf to score an impressive victory in a restricted steeplechase at Warrnambool last Thursday.
He is hopeful stablemates including John Monash, Clondaw Warrior and Ivan Grazny will be successful in jumps features this year.
“Patrick’s got a great stable of jumpers in work,” Horner said.
“I’m grateful Patrick’s given me the chance to work for his stable.
“We’ve got 10 horses in work and I think another couple may be on the way.
“Patrick is an astute horseman.
“I’m loving living in Warrnambool, it’s a great part of the world.
“I was very impressed with the win of I’ll’ava’alf in the restricted steeplechase.
“He’s ticking along well for another crack at the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase.”
Horner, who still claims 3kg in jumping races, only needs two more winners before the claim is reduced to 1.5kg.
“My claim is helpful,” Horner said.
“I’ve been schooling various horses around Warrnambool to get to know the course really well, as I hope to have rides in all the jumps races at the upcoming carnival.
“I’ve had a bit of luck in some of the jumping features previously, but I’m hoping to build on that success this season with the help of runners from Patrick’s stable”
Clondaw Warrior and Ivan Grazny, who are yet to make their Australian debuts, worked solidly between races at Warrnambool last Thursday as they prepare for this jumping season.
COURSE CLOSED
WARRNAMBOOL’S main track will be closed after the racing club’s next race meeting on March 29, as track staff work to prepare the course for the three-day May Carnival.
WRC racecourse manager Daniel Lumsden said dry weather had caused a few headaches for track preparation.
“We only had 40mm of rain until the end of February, for the same time last year we had 109mm,” Lumsden said.
“It’s been tough to prepare the track because of the lack of rain compared to last year.
“We’ve got plenty of work to do on the course proper following our March 29 race day.”
The club will hold no jumps races at its March 29 meeting.
BAKER BLITZ
ON the back of two winners over the last week and good runs from other horses in the stable, Warrnambool trainer Jane Baker is buoyant about her stables’ chances at the upcoming May Racing Carnival.
Timor’s Gold won at Warrnambool, while Goldie’s Fortune was successful in a two-horse race at Ballarat last week.
Stablemates Deliberate and Super Mover ran well for Baker at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
“It’s been a top week for the stable but it’s a tough game, training horses,” Baker said.
“There’s a lot of ups and downs. Hopefully we’ll stay on an up.
“I’ve been really happy with Deliberate’s two flat runs back from a spell.
“He’ll go to the steeplechase trials at Cranbourne on Wednesday before running in a 3000 metre flat race at Warrnambool next week.
“I’ll be entering him for the Brierly, Novice and Grand Annual Steeplechases at the Warrnambool May Carnival.
“He’s a more seasoned jumper this year.”
Super Mover resumed with a fifth placing in a $50,000 race at the Valley.
“It was a super run,” Baker said. “He was caught wide from the bad barrier.
“Super Mover will go to the Terang Cup before being set for the Warrnambool Cup.
“It would be great if we got some heavy rain in the lead-up to the Warrnambool Carnvial, as Super Mover loves wet tracks.”
The Terang Cup will be run on April 15, with the Warrnambool Cup on May 3.
HILL OUTED
POPULAR jockey Jack Hill was outed by stewards on a careless riding charge after his ride on Moshvago at Benalla on Sunday.
Stewards found Hill permitted Moshvago to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Hard Got, resulting in Hard Got being tightened onto Paris Reward. Hard Got was checked and lost its rightful running. Hill’s suspension starts midnight on March 21 and ends March 27.
Stewards took into account Hill’s guilty plea and his record in relation to this particular rule.
Apprentice jockey Michael Poy was found guilty of a careless riding charge after his ride on Finally Free at Geelong.
Stewards acknowledged that the racing manners of Finally Free contributed to the incident, which took place near the 100 metre mark.
His suspension starts March 21 and ends March 30.
SALE SUCCESS
THE Autumn Thoroughbred Sale staged by Inglis in Melbourne on Sunday was a resounding success.
The clearance rate was 94 per cent, with 154 horses being sold.
Top lot in the sale was an unraced filly by Redoute’s Choice for $85,000.
Epic Moment, a three-time winning Snitzel colt, made $72,000.