FORMER Warrnambool Brauer College student Jackie Henderson forgot how cold it gets in her old home town during the winter months.
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Henderson - who has been training horses in outback Western Australia for the last six years - made the trip back to Warrnambool in March after injuring the articulate ligament in her left knee, forcing the 41-year-old to have an operation.
"I've found the last week to have been very cold," she said. "The weather here is a lot different to places like Broome, Port Hedland and Marble Bar at this time of the year. I forget how cold it can really get, but it's great to be back home among my family and friends.
"I was living out of a suitcase training my horses and going to outback race meetings. I met some amazing characters. It was an amazing experience, but I thought it was best to come home and settle down a bit after I injured my knee."
Henderson trained numerous winners on the outback racing circuit, including the 2017 Roebourne Cup Boys Getaround Him, and is now working for Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell.
"I'm really enjoying working for Aaron," she said.
"I never had my knee operated on until June. It's been a slow recovery, but all is good now. I'm not allowed to ride trackwork for another six months.
"I've had my trainers permit transferred from Western Australia to Victoria. My aim is to have a couple of horses in work and continue working for Aaron."
Henderson worked for the Symon Wilde and Ciaron Maher stables before moving to Western Australia.
HOPES ABLAZE
COLERAINE maiden hurdle winner Ablaze may be a surprise runner in one of the big two hurdle features at Ballarat on Sunday.
Ablaze, having his first jumps start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, defeated Diamond Star Halo by 15 lengths with Jingles in third at Coleraine on Sunday.
The powerful Maher-Eustace stable is now considering running Ablaze in the Houlahan Hurdle over 3200 metres, or the Gotta Take Care Hurdle over 4000 metres, at Victoria's last jumps meeting for the 2019 season.
"I was very impressed with how Ablaze went in the maiden hurdle," Maher said.
"We'll give to a bit of consideration putting in an entry in for the two feature hurdle races at Ballarat. I understand it's a big jump up in class but I think he's an above average jumper.
"We've done a lot of schooling with him over the jumps at our Ballarat stable. The long-term aim is to have home ready for a jumps races at next year's Warrnambool May Racing Carnival."
Ablaze won six races on the flat in New Zealand before joining the Maher-Eustace stable in late May.
GORDON FINED
JUMPS jockey Will Gordon was left $1000 out of pocket after riding at Coleraine on Sunday.
Stewards inquired into a report from stipendiary steward Sam Cochrane relative to an incident prior to the running of race six, where it was found that Gordon had a mobile phone in his possession while in the jockeys room.
Stewards conducted an examination of his phone messages, social media and other platforms which revealed the communication was of a private nature and not related to integrity concerns. Gordon pleaded guilty and was fined $1000.
Stewards were mindful that Gordon had initially denied having the mobile phone in his possession.
NUMERATE WIN
POPULAR Warrnambool hobby trainer Maureen Harry was excited with the win of Numerate in restricted company at Coleraine on Sunday.
Numerate with apprentice jockey Fred Kersley in the saddle hung on to beat He's The Bomb and Sir Chatalot.
The seven-year-old put the writing on the wall for a win with a fourth placing at Warrnambool at his first start for Harry earlier this month.
"I've got to thank Numerate's former trainer Ken Elford," she said.
"Ken thought the horse would be suited by our way of training. I thought he would be hard to beat after he ran so well at Warrnambool. He's a low-rated horse so we'll just take him along slowly."
PROBE ONGOING
FORMER Crossley trainer Mitch Freedman has been informed by Racing Victoria stewards of a prohibited substance in a pre-race sample taken from Pearl de Vere at Geelong on June 28.
Stewards received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited, confirming a prohibited substance was detected in the sample. RASL reported that it had detected within the sample cobalt at a mass concentration of 111 micrograms per litre in urine.
Stewards initially informed Freedman of the irregularity on August 3 and was advised of the confirmatory findings last Thursday. Stewards are continuing their investigation. Freedman now trains at Ballarat.
SEASON CLOSE
VICTORIA'S 2019 jumps season comes to a close at Ballarat this Sunday.
The feature race is the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase, to be run over 4500 metres.
The other jumps races comprise of two maiden hurdles, hurdles over 4000 and 3200 metres and a restricted steeplechase.
South Australia's jumps racing continues at Gawler on September 4 before Morphettville on September 7. Its season ends at Mount Gambier on September 15.