APPRENTICE EARNS HUGE PRAISE FROM TRAINER JOHN HICKMOTT AFTER GUIDING LITTLE RICH BOY TO VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 8, 2021

The 3kg claiming, mature-age apprentice Stacey Metcalfe received huge praise from trainer John Hickmott after she guided Little Rich Boy to victory in the fifth race at Morphettville.

“I told Stacey before she went out … you’re the next Jamie Kah, so keep it together … and I firmly believe that,” said Hickmott.

“I met her the first day she was here. I I watched and I thought she was going good so I said I’ll give you a ride.

“I watched her from Melbourne last week and she rode three winners at Murray Bridge. I shouldn’t talk too much about her because I want to use her claim to ride more winners for me.

As for Little Rich Boy … “He drew well. He was weighted well. I expected them to come rushing at him, but he had it easy with 52kg,” said Hickmott.

“I wish” … was Metcalfe’s response when reminded of Hickmott’s reference to her being the next Jamie Kah..

‘Yeah, that was a pretty good feeling to ride a winner on Adelaide Cup day,” said Metcalfe. “I was just happy to get ride here today. Gordon (Richards) put me on one earlier which ran a pretty strong third and this one bolted in.

‘I couldn’t go any slower. He was travelling so strongly I didn’t want to give him a tug to get him back, so I just let him stay well within himself unto we straightened.

“We did start laying out late but he got the job done.”