THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: ONLY THREE LOCALLY BASED JOCKEYS GET A DOOMBEN CUP CALL UP

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 18, 2019

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

The field for the Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday underlines just how tough a time the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival is for local, South-East Queensland trainers and jockeys to gain a foothold in the ultra-competitive world of Group 1 racing.

Of the seventeen runners left in the Doomben Cup at the time of writing (including emergencies) only two runners will represent Queensland stables. As far as the jockeys are concerned, only three regular, locally based jockeys have got the call up.

Jeff Lloyd and Mark De Plessis ride Mister Sea Wolf and Savvy Coup respectively for champion trainer Chris Waller, who no less than five runners in the race including the favourite Youngstar, while apprentice Michael Murphy gets the ride on the Steve Tregea trained Prioritise which will be a big moment for the young man.

A first Group 1 ride is always a memorable occasion.

Matthew McGillivray was to have ridden the Kris Lees trained Halleluyah Boy, but that runner was an early scratching.

With these jockeys in play Queensland may still be able to claim of victory of sorts … as happened last week in the Doomben 10 000.

The Bostonian scored for New Zealand in the Doomben 10 000 with the gelding trained by Cambridge based Tony Pike … but it was ridden a treat by locally based jockey Michael Cahill whose judgement, both in the way he rated his mount and the way he angled for the right run, played an integral part in The Bostonian’s success.

Jeff Lloyd’s mount for the Doomben Cup is currently quoted at $11, Du Plessis is on a $46 chance while Michael Murphy and Prioritise are absolutely unwanted in the betting at $91, so Murphy at least is free from the weight of any great expectation from the punters.

It should be remembered though, The Bostonian got home at a price of $40 underlining the old saying that, ‘if you have got a ticket, you have got a chance.’

It’s never over until the fat lady sings but, as ever, Chris Waller remains the stable to beat.

***************************************************************************************************

It was good to see Damian Browne honoured at Doomben last Saturday where all of the jockeys formed a guard of honour as Browne walked out and down the line of riders to receive a presentation from the Brisbane Racing Club.

That reception, in front of family, friends and the public underlined just how much respect Browne has earned during his time in the saddle and that the respect he is afforded by his peers is certain to remain a feature in whatever he moves onto in his retirement.

More articles