FOLLOW JASMINE CORNISH
By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 13, 2023
FOLLOW JASMINE CORNISH
It has now been seven months since Jasmine Cornish suffered a very serious, back-breaking fall in a trial at Beaudesert. The tentative, initial prognosis was that she would be away from race riding for about six months, but it soon became clear that estimate had to revert to an open-ended, on-going assessment as her progress stalled and became, quite literally, painfully slow. While her rehab continues, it is pleasing to report that the first steps towards a possible comeback … small steps … have now been set in motion … that is to a strictly limited degree, but they are nevertheless small steps in a big direction all the same. In this, HRO’s latest edition of Catching Up With Cornish, Cornish gives us the latest update on her situation.
“The last time I saw the doctor I had been seeing since my fall, he told me there was very little further that he could do for me … but a level of pain still existed which has continued to trouble me,” said Cornish.
“I’ve gone to see a pain physiologist now. He tests my flexion and stuff like that. He got the report from the doctor, and they first said they were happy for me to start riding … just at home … on a couple of quiet ones … so, I’ve been slowly increasing that every week.
“Then the pain physiologist said that he was happy for me to start riding at the track … maybe one … then up to two.
“We’ll just see how it goes. Obviously, it is still quite painful because I have been riding, but he said it was natural that it would still be painful at this early stage of getting back in the saddle. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH: ONLY SMALL STEPS FOR STARTERS, BUT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
_____________________________________________________________________
It wasn’t good news. You might think that would not be the case when you hear from your doctor that your broken back has healed and that he doesn’t have to see you again ... but, when your body is telling you something different ... well, it is not a happy outcome. Jasmine Cornish is now six months into her rehabilitation after a horror fall in a trial left her stricken with a broken back, amongst other injuries. On April 26, she received the latest review of the scans on her back ... and it seemingly has left her with more questions than answers.
“When I went in, because of the pain I’ve been having, I expected them to say it needs more healing,” said Cornish.
“It is still just so sore. I can’t even go a day without being in pain. Like I say, I was expecting to go in there and be told it needs more time to heal, so I was surprised when he said it appears to be fully healed and that there is nothing much else that will change.
“I said, right ... so why am I still in pain then?
“You know, I do have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I deal with it every day, but does that mean if I don’t want to be in pain, do I just take pain killers? Am I just meant to keep pushing through and eventually I come out of pain? I just wanted to know my options, but I didn’t really get many answers.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to go back and be told it is healed so, as crazy as it might sound, it was very disappointing to hear that given the way my body feels. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (APRIL 27): A CASE OF MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
______________________________________________________________________
On February 20, two-and-a-half months after Jasmine Cornish’s world literally came crashing down in a horror fall at the Beaudesert barrier trials on November 8, Queensland Racing Stewards posted a report on the incident which resulted in Cornish breaking her back and being sidelined for what is now turning out to be an indefinite period of time.
After investigating the incident, stewards found no rider was at fault and deemed the fall to be ‘an unfortunate racing incident.’ That outcome, in terms of not attributing blame to any rider involved, was a fair outcome.
It is arguably unfortunate, however, that the parameters of this particular steward’s inquiry seemingly did not include an investigation into the story doing the rounds at the time of an errant witch’s hat (cone), which it has been suggested had earlier been knocked out of line and not possibly not repositioned properly, and its role in causing the horse leading the trial to shy and cause the chain reaction that led to Cornish’s fall.
It would have been good to have some clarity, either way, on that assertion, particular as it relates to trial health and safety procedures.
“I have watched the replay, but I was asked specifically about my recollection of what happened at the time, and I told them that I was badly concussed and that I didn’t remember anything about the fall ... and they left it at that,” explained Cornish.
“The stewards retired from the room and came back and said that no rider was at fault with the fall ... which was true. No rider was to blame. None of them did the wrong thing. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (MARCH 4): THE OUTCOME OF THE STEWARD'S INQUIRY INTO THE FALL
_______________________________________________________________________
It is close on four months now since Jasmine Cornish broke her back in a fall during a race trial at Beaudesert. The recovery to date has been slow and arduous and, for the most part, there is not that much that Cornish can do other than to allow her injury the time it requires for the body to repair the serious damage it suffered in the incident. That’s easier said than done when you had previously been used to a daily dose of highly charged activity, but Cornish is bearing up well under the circumstances. Here Jasmine Cornish continues her story in HRO’s latest edition of ‘Catching Up With Cornish.”
“Another month of waiting has passed.
“One good thing is that this last month seems to have gone by pretty quickly ... but I’m still dealing with some of the same issues.
“Unfortunately, I would say the pain is still the same ... I don’t think it has improved too much.
“I have started to do a little bit more. I’m obviously still going to the gym and doing the treadmill and stairs ... and I’ve just started physio.
“The pain I’m talking about is back pain and also sometimes the movement in my neck is restricted a little bit.
“I’ve been to a chiropractor as well. I only went last week, so I’m hoping that will give me better freedom of movement of my neck moving forward.
“The pain used to affect my sleep, but that’s alright now.
“For all of that, I definitely do still keep myself busy. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (FEBRUARY 28)
________________________________________________________________________
Another three month wait before another assessment on her back. That, essentially, was the outcome of Jasmine Cornish’s visit to the doctor today where she received a report-back on her latest set of scans following the surgery she had in November to repair a broken back suffered in a serious fall in a race trial at Beaudesert. Here she continues her story in HRO’s latest edition of ‘Catching Up With Cornish.”
“On the one hand it wasn’t good news ... but, again, then I went into the doctor’s rooms today to see the latest scans on my broken back with no real expectations, so I couldn’t even say I was that disappointed afterwards.
“Or, at least, I thought I went into the doctor with no expectations but, when I was shown the scans, I realised I wasn’t expecting my scans to look that bad when I got there.
“I was like ... wow ... I didn’t think it would look like that ... but I’ve got to be grateful that basically its all good in terms of the fact that there are no complications. It’s just that the healing process needs more time.
“The bones aren’t fused properly yet. The area between the rods and my spine has not healed. Once that is healed and built up completely it will be strong, but until then I have got to take care of it ... not let it get bumped or anything like that ... or fall off a horse ... no, I’m kidding. I’m not allowed to get on a horse yet. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (JANUARY 31)
______________________________________________________________________
Camping at the beach ... the kind of down time we all would like to enjoy at this of year ... but for Jasmine Cornish it is also a welcome change of scenery as she continues her rehabilitation after suffering a broken back (amongst other injuries) in a fall at the trials at Beaudesert on November 8. Here, nearly two months after the incident, in HRO’s latest edition of ‘Catching Up With Cornish’, Jasmine Cornish provides us with the latest update on her current situation.
“Everything is improving. It is just a waiting game.
“The real good news is that my eyesight which was a bit of a problem early on is now completely back to normal.” (Cornish suffered a fractured eye-socket in the fall).
“It just took a bit over a good three weeks for my brain to recover from the hard hit, but, yeah, thankfully, that’s all back to normal now.
“My movement is fair. A lot of people tell me they can’t tell ... that they can’t believe ... I’ve had a broken back.
“I guess I’m hiding it ... trying to put it in the back of my mind and acting like I don’t have a broken back, so I don’t focus on the negative ... but, at the same time, I’m not being foolish about it. Definitely not! Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (JANUARY 4)
______________________________________________________________________
For reasons that will become patently obvious, this particular episode of ‘Catching Up With Cornish’ ... a series of articles on HRO which has chronicled the rise of the riding career of the young, star apprentice Jasmine Cornish over the last six months ... is an extremely sad undertaking given Cornish’s current circumstances. It is done in the interests of the faithful continuation of her story ... albeit with a chapter that we all wish wasn’t there. We never said we were only going to cover the ‘highs’ ... and that’s all it is. A personal story. It is not, in anyway, a call for sympathy and it is done with the full acknowledgement that Cornish is not the only one to suffer this anguish and that there are many individuals, and their families, who have had to deal with the kind of trauma suffered by Cornish ... and worse ... in the past, the present and, sadly, possibly into the future.
A broken back and a fractured eye-socket are just some of the challenges that Cornish is dealing with following the major upheaval which rocked her life when she crashed the ground in a serious fall in a trial at Beaudesert on Tuesday November 8. Here, in her own words in this latest edition of ‘Catching Up With Cornish,’ Cornish tells the story of the last couple of weeks and indicates just where her recovery stands at this time (November 25).
“That Tuesday was a normal day ... until it wasn’t,” said Cornish. “I remember riding in an earlier trial on a horse for Doug Duryea. It was a pick-up ride. I wasn’t really doing anything ... just waiting around for my next ride ... so I rode that horse.
“I led that trial and you actually had to take a left hand turn to get around the cones. Then I rode our horse Royal Spectre (from the Cornish stable) in the trial before the fall. I remember riding him, but I don’t really remember getting off him ... or getting onto the next horse. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (NOVEMBER 25)
______________________________________________________________________
Every time a jockey eases himself or herself into the saddle, an ever-present danger keeps them company. It travels with them, mostly as a silent passenger that does not show itself … but it can also manifest itself in ways as diverse being relatively harmless to outright catastrophic.
That concern is never front and centre in the everyday life of a jockey. It can’t be. They have a job to do. They all know the high stakes game they are playing, but they do it anyway, most of them because of their pure love for the horse as an animal and the pleasure it brings them to be involved so intimately with thoroughbred racehorses.
It is only when an incident occurs that falls into the catastrophic category that we get the awful reminder of what jockeys are really putting on the line when they go into action and how a split second can be life changing.
That’s why the news was shocking when a report came out of Beaudesert that star apprentice Jasmine Cornish had suffered such an experience during official trials at her home track of Beaudesert on Tuesday November 8 in circumstances which is currently under an official pending review. (It has been suggested, but not confirmed, that an errant cone, one which had been kicked out of line back onto the racing line by a horse in a previous trail and which had not been put back in its place, played a big part in the incident).
This type of situation has come out of left field for many people over the years and so, while the story of Jasmine Cornish is not a unique one, it nevertheless a telling tale of the risks involved in the riding profession. Read more ...
JASMINE CORNISH CLIMBS OFF THE CANVAS, BUT THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD (NOVEMBER 17)
________________________________________________________________________
As a young jockey’s career evolves, the opportunities that come their way have a direct correlation to both the success they are having results-wise and the reputation they are building in terms of character and work ethic.
No surprise then that Jasmine Cornish’s career is evolving rapidly … and she achieved another notable breakthrough in her list of riding engagements when she was booked to ride Logan Street Lion for champion trainer Chris Waller at Eagle Farm on, November 1, Melbourne Cup Day.
It was her first ride for the Waller stable.
To keep that door open it is imperative that this sort of opportunity is seized and the most made of it in terms of trying to keep your name in the mix for future rides.
Yet again, Cornish took up the challenge and came away a big winner. Read more ...
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES. ONE RIDE FOR CHRIS WALLER. ONE WIN FOR CHRIS WALLER (NOVEMBER 1)
________________________________________________________________________
Emerald Kingdom bounced back to his best with a runaway victory in an Open Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm on October 29.
There was never any doubting Emerald Kingdom’s underlying ability. He has a Group 3 win to his name (in the BRC Sprint) as well as a Listed race success in the Sunshine Coast Cup and, of course, a notable win in the inaugural running of The Archer in Rockhampton … but, it had taken the now eight-year-old some time to get his career into stride again after changing stables from Robert Heathcote to Desleigh Forster.
The first two starts for his new stable, following close to a three month break from race action, were disappointing … resulting in a seventh place, albeit behind a good one in Weona Smartone, and a last place finish in The Weetwood.
It was in his third start for Forster when Emerald Kingdom showed signs that his old competitive flame was still burning … a fourth place finish, just 1.20 lengths behind Ef Troop over 1200m prompting greater expectation leading into this race. Read more ...
EMERALD KINGDOM BOUNCES BACK TO HIS BEST (OCTOBER 29)
_______________________________________________________________________
When trainer Lindsay Hatch sends one to town, you know it the horse will be worth a second glance … and when it shortens in price from $12 to $9 you would probably be wise to think that there might be a hint of a message in there.
That was the case with the Hatch trained The Tyler who was sent to town off the back of a fourth place finish behind the imported gelding Without Revenge who was a notable winner when scoring in his first Australian start.
Jasmine Cornish took The Tyler to the front, angling between runners to get there soon after the start. Read more ...
PLAN HATCHED TO PERFECTION AS THE TYLER MAKES ALL OF THE RUNNING AT DOOMBEN (OCTOBER 26)
______________________________________________________________________
The Poly Track at the Sunshine Coast was the venue for another Team Cornish success when Bold Ransom chalked up his first career success in a strong first-up effort which saw him account for the best of his opposition by a clearcut 3.80 length margin in a Maiden Plate over 1000m on October 23.
The Greg Cornish trained Bold Ransom had finished either second or third in five of his previous eight starts and he showed enough improvement fresh after a four month break from race action for him to salute with ease.
It took a Jasmine Cornish a couple of hundred metres to ease Bold Ransom (the $2.60 second favourite) into the lead from barrier six (in a field of seven runners) and the chestnut son of Real Saga, which his distinctive white blaze, held sway until the home turn where he cornered with a one length advantage over the $81 outsider Pride Of Passion. Read more ...
POLY TRACK PLEASURE FOR BOLD RANSOM (OCTOBER 23)
_______________________________________________________________________
The Robert Heathcote trained En Pointe improved her career record to three wins from only five starts when she took out a QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap over 1200m at Doomben on October 22.
Jasmine Cornish, who had previously partnered En Pointe to successive wins, was reunited with the daughter of Better Than Ready here after being unable to ride her in her previous start (in which En Pointe lost the rider at the start) due to a suspension.
Back on board, Cornish and En Pointe ($3.60) set out to keep their perfect record intact with the horse having shown no end of improvement since she was defeated at Dalby on debut … and they did just that, although they had to take care of the late rush of the fast finishing $2.60 favourite Clairvue Molly to be able to earn the desired result. Read more ...
EN POINTE MASKES IT THREE WINS FROM FIVE STARTS (OCTOBER 22)
______________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish, who won the Gatton Jockey’s Premiership for the 2021/22 season, was again very much to the fore at the country track on October 20 where she scored a double on the day with her winning rides coming aboard Beitsoo and Damreel.
The Mark Palmer trained Beitsoo became Cornish’s second successive long priced winner at $26 (in from $71) after her win on the $17 chance Style Seeker the day before … so the followers of the young rider were rubbing their hands and counting their cash at this stage … but most would have not seen the result coming.
Beitsoo, who won the opening race on the card, had finished last in his only two previous starts by a combined total of 19.20 lengths. Read more ...
CORNISH AGAIN TO THE FORE AT GATTON (OCTOBER 20)
_______________________________________________________________________
The Maryann Brosnan trained Style Seeker drifted from $9.50 to a starting price of $17 when he tackled a Class 1 Handicap over 1690m at Ipswich on October 19, but those who stuck fast with the Savabeel gelding were rewarded when the five-year-old prevailed in a close finish with another $17 chance Cairdeas.
The starting price never seemed to be quite right.
Style Seeker was second-up here, but he had won second-up before … and, in his previous preparation, he had placed in all three runs at three different tracks (Eagle Farm, Doomben and Grafton) from 1600m to 2060m … so there was definitely factors to recommend his chances. Read more ...
END TO END WIN FOR STYLE SEEKER (OCTOBER 19)
_______________________________________________________________________
Never one to waste time, Jasmine Cornish turned her first ride back from a suspension into a win when she guided the Les Ross trained Mishani Renegade to an impressive victory in a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm on October 15.
The win saw Mishani Renegade take a big step towards sealing a place in the $2 million Magic Millions Two-year-Old Classic at the Gold Coast in January as this victory added a more than useful boost to the son of Top Echelon’s earnings as he maintained his perfect record with making it two wins from two starts. Read more ...
MISHANI RENEGADE IMPRESSES AGAIN AS HE KEEPS HIS PERFECT RECORD INTACT (OCTOBER 15)
____________________________________________________________________
Star performers for the 2021/22 racing season were honoured at a lavish awards function in Brisbane on Sunday, October 9.
The Desleigh Forster trained Apache Chase took out the night’s major award, the Queensland Horse Of the Year.
Other winners included trainers Tony Gollan, Stuart Kendrick and the Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted training partnership … and jockeys Jimmy Orman, Kyle Wilson-Taylor, Ryan Wiggins, Jasmine Cornish, Tahlia Fenton and Jade Doolan. Read more ...
STARS SHINE AT LAVISH AWARDS CEREMONY (OCTOBER 9)
_______________________________________________________________________
With the substantial amount of travel that jockeys have to do these days in order to successfully ply their trade, it is always a pleasure for jockey to be able to avoid a long drive when racing takes place on their doorstep … and it is even better when they come away with a couple of winners on the day.
That was the scenario enjoyed by Jasmine Cornish at Beaudesert on the Queen’s Birthday Holiday on October 3, where the young rider saluted on the Greg Cornish trained Bay Of Dragons and the Corey and Kylie Geran trained October Joy … with these two wins pushing Cornish into second place on the Queensland State Provincial Jockey Premiership (three wins behind Nathan day) and to the top of the Queensland State Provincial Apprentice Jockey Premiership, a title she won last season. Read more ...
BEAUDESERT DOUBLE FOR CORNISH (OCTOBER 3)
_______________________________________________________________________
Victories don’t come much sweeter for Jasmine Cornish than when they are achieved aboard the very game Lemon Duchess … one of Cornish’s favourite horses … and she got that particular sweet taste of victory again when Lemon Duchess won a BM80 Handicap over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast on October 2.
Lemon Duchess, who is from Cornish’s home stable, being trained by her dad Greg Cornish, had given Jasmine Cornish her home-town Cup win when daughter of Tycoon Ruler took out the Beaudesert Cup on a heavy 10 track back in July.
That was Lemon Duchess’s seventh career victory and, at the time it formed part of a run of results which produced four wins and one runner-up finish (in town) over a period of six races from March 31 until that Beaudesert Cup win on July 9.
In her three starts subsequent to that, Lemon Duchess had failed to take any competitive part in race at Ipswich after rearing at the start (an application to have Lemon Duchess declareda non-runner was denied by stewards).
She had then finished a highly creditable second at Doomben in a No Metro Win Handicap when only run down late over 1350m … before finishing fourth in a BM75 Handicap at the Gold Coast in her final run before heading to the Sunshine Coast. Read more ...
LEMON DUCHESS'S FIGHTING QUALITIES AGAIN TO THE FORE AS SHE LANDS HER EIGHTH CAREER SUCCESS (OCTOBER 2)
______________________________________________________________________
The smart Gemelon Bolt made it back-to-back wins and took his prize-money earnings past the $250 000 mark when he prevailed under a polished ride from Jasmine Cornish to land a BM75 Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm on October 1.
The four-year-old son of Falvelon had won two of his last three races (and finished second in the other) leading into this contest. In all of those starts trainer Chris Anderson had used apprentice jockeys (Kyle Wilson-Taylor in the two wins and Adin Thompson in the runner-up finish) and this time, with Gemelon Bolt set to carry 60.5kg, Anderson handed the reins to Cornish with her 3kg claim bringing that weight burden down to 57.5kg.
Arguably, that was a winning move. Read more ...
GEMELON BOLT MAKES IT THREE WINS FROM HIS LAST FOUR STARTS (OCTOBER 1)
______________________________________________________________________
Sergeant Silva, who had shown good early promise before going off the boil, scored an overdue win in the hands of Jasmine Cornish when he saluted in a Class 3 Handicap over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast on September 28.
The Robert Heathcote trained son of Top Echelon won three-in-a-row in a sizzling run of form between August 8 and September 4, 2021 … but he was not as competitive when he returned from a spell, having four runs in his next preparation without finishing in the placings.
After a further seven months break from race action between December 21, 2021 and July 31, 2022, Sergeant Silva resumed and, once again he never flattered in his first three starts back, again finding to find a place in any of those contests. Read more ...
SERGEANT SILVA CLAIMS AN OVERDUE VICTORY (SEPTEMBER 28)
______________________________________________________________________
HRO brings you another episide of its regular 'Catching up with Cornish' feature as the emerging, star apprentuice Jasmine Cornish gives us the inside line of how her career is unfolding
“I’m very happy with my start to the season. I think I’ve had a great start actually,” said Jasmine Cornish.
“I think I rode a double before I went on my little holiday (a week away in Bali) … and I was thinking, ‘I can’t leave now’ … but I’m glad I managed to pick up from where I left off when I got back and hopefully it can carry on this way for a while.
"Having regular winners is important … not just for the obvious reason … but also because it builds your confidence, the type of confidence you need when you get on better horses so that you can have the belief that horses are just going to run for you if you sit nice and balanced. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (SEPTEMBER 23)
_______________________________________________________________________
The Better Than Ready filly En Pointe was by far the lesser fancied of the two runners trainer Robert Heathcote sent into action in a BM62 Handicap over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on September 23.
En Pointe’s stable companion Kernel Boom was priced at $3.60 … being the third favourite behind Kobe Lad ($2.80) and Jamaican Rumba ($3.30) … while En Pointe, in spite of winning her previous start, ending up as the longest-priced runner in the five-horse field at $9.50.
As the old saying goes though, En Pointe didn’t know what price she was and she duly made a mockery of her odds, coming home under a confident ride by Jasmine Cornish to secure back-to-back wins … in only her third start … by an emphatic 2.50 length margin from the second placed Kobe Lad while also beating her stable companion to the tune of 8.60 lengths. Read more ...
EN POINTE MAKES A MOCKERY OF HER ODDS (SEPTEMBER 23)
__________________________________________________________________________
Ten days after Zuma California gave Jasmine Cornish a very satisfying midweek win in town, the Cameron Richardson trained four-year-old made it two-in-a-row when saluting in a Class 3 Plate over 1200m at the Gold Coast on September 17.
This time the satisfaction level for the young ruder stepped up a notch as this was Cornish’s first Saturday metropolitan winner … which is always a landmark victory.
Zuma California’s previous victory, in a BM65 Handicap over 1200m at Eagle Farm had been achieved in clearcut fashion, winning by 1.75 lengths, but this time the Statue Of Liberty gelding did not have it all his own way.
In fact, the result was not signed and sealed until the very last stride.
With Cornish again taking a 3kg claim off Zuma California’s allotted weight of 59kg, the Richardson runner topped the betting boards at $2.15 with Safework next on offer at a starting price of $4.80. Read more ...
BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR ZUMA CALIFORNIA (SEPTEMBER 17)
______________________________________________________________________
After a winning double at the Sunshine Coast on September 11, Jasmine Cornish rode at a Metropolitan midweek meeting at Doomben on September 14 where she claimed three third place finishes aboard the $11 chance Party Spirit and the $5.50 chance Sergeant Silva (for trainer Robert Heathcote) and the $5 fancy Daulat Tai Panaziz (for John Holcombe) … all of whom finished within less than two lengths of their respective race winners … which meant Cornish had to wait for the Kilcoy meeting on September 16 to land her next winner.
Kilcoy is pretty much a jump and run track, particularly over the shorter sprint distances where often some luck in the running is required to get the right result.
That was the situation facing Jasmine Cornish as she jumped the Gordon Hay trained Grandeur Rose from the gates at the 1100m in a Class 2 Handicap at the country venue on September 16 in which the Domesday mare started second favourite at $4.40. Read more
GRANDEUR ROSE REWARDED FOR HER CONSISTENCY (SEPTEMBER 16)
_______________________________________________________________________
For the second Sunshine Coast meeting in a row, Jasmine Cornish came away with a same day race double on September 11 … taking her total to six wins from twenty-five rides (a twenty-four percent strike-rate) so far for the month of September.
First into the winner’s enclosure was the Stuart Kendrick trained speedster La Amigo.
The son of Squamosa had won five of his eleven starts going into a BM70 Handicap over 1000m and, although the five-year-old was first-up after a five month break from race action, his form … plus the fact that he seems to thrive on his home track … saw him installed as a short-priced favourite at $1.80 with Kosciuszko next on offer at $5.
In truth, as the betting suggested, this was never a serious contest once Cornish pushed La Amigo up in-between runners to take up the lead after the field had covered 200m.
Once there, La Amigo’s concentrated effort simply wore down the opposition before leading them a merry dance all the way down the home straight with the winning margin of 2.50 lengths still flattering La Amigo’s rivals as he could have extended that margin if he had been asked to do so. Read more ...
THE DOUBLES JUST KEEP COMING FOR CORNISH (SEPTEMBER 11)
_______________________________________________________________________
A same day double at the Sunshine Coast on September 8 was the next point of success for Jasmine Cornish who won on the Robert Heathcote trained En Pointe and the Stewart McKinnon trained Wine Not Roses.
Both were important wins for the young apprentice in their own right.
The En Pointe victory was important because it helped progress the valuable working relationship Cornish is developing with Heathcote, the multiple Premiership winner trainer … a relationship which could play a huge part in Cornish’s career progress when her focus fully shifts to the metropolitan scene.
The Wine Not Roses victory was important because it cemented her place in a winning combination after playing her part in helping Wine Not Roses to a double success … the type of horse/rider affinity which attracts attention.
All in all, it was a very good day out for Cornish on the synthetic surface. Read more ...
CORNISH BOOKENDS THE POLY TRACK MEETING (SEPTEMBER 8)
_____________________________________________________________________
There are different ways you can put a double on the scoreboard in racing.
Take young apprentice Jasmine Cornish for example.
Cornish rode the winner of the last race at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, September 7 and she then won the first race at the Sunshine Coast on Thursday, September 8 … making it a race to race double, if you like, at two different meetings.
But Cornish wasn’t finished yet. She went on to win the last race at that Sunshine Coast meeting, thus making it a separate double on the day as she bookended the meeting.
Whichever way you look at it, these three wins represented a fine run of form, particularly as they came on the back of the eight wins Cornish had already posted since August 20 … that’s eleven wins in nineteen days … which is not too shabby by anyone’s standards. Read more ...
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF PUTTING A DOUBLE ON THE SCOREBOARD IN RACING (SEPTEMBER 7)
______________________________________________________________________
Like every other jockey, for Jasmine Cornish all wins are satisfying, but a win for her home based, family stable is always a special pleasure and she put one of those in the bank when Dream Entity got the job done in a BM68 Handicap over 1200m at the Gold Coast on September 3.
The race conditions did help Dream Entity’s cause, who only came into the race as an emergency acceptor after a large number of scratchings. The mare had confirmed her liking for soft or heavy going prior to this run … and when she got a heavy 10 track in the last race on the card she was always going to be in a with good chance, even though relatively easy to back at a starting price of $6 … the fourth longest price in the six-horse field.
As things turned out, the result was never really in doubt in the end, although the early running might not have painted that picture as Cornish took Dream Entity back to second last place, some five-and-a-half lengths off the leader. Read more ...
DREAM ENTITY MAKES LIGHT WORK OF THE HEAVY GOING (SEPTEMBER 3)
______________________________________________________________________
On the final day of the first month of the 2022/23 season, Jasmine Cornish added another winner to her tally when she partnered Cocobrew Express to victory in a BM68 Handicap over 1350 at Ipswich on August 31.
The Tom Button trained son of Spill The Beans was first-up here. He had won three of his first ten starts before in taking on serious company when given his chance in the Group 2 Sires Produce and the Group 1 J J Atkins over the Winter Carnival.
Both of those feature races were won by the very smart, Peter and Paul Snowden trained Sheeza Belter and, while Cocobrew Express did finished unplaced in both of those outings, there was nowhere near anything like that type of competition when he lined up for his first-up assignment at Ipswich.
That, and the fact that he had trialled well enough in the lead up to the race, saw him start at the prohibitive odds of $1.40 and he was able to win, as the price suggested he would, with something hand, albeit by only a one length margin. Read more ...
A NICE SWEETENER FOR COCOBREW EXPRESS (AUGUST 31)
_______________________________________________________________________
It would be fair to say that punters received a slap in the face in the opening race at the Sunshine Coast on August 28 when three runners at double figure odds filled the first three places in a Maiden Handicap over 1600m … with Jasmine Cornish riding the Tony Bita trained Mottram leading the charge.
You would have thought that by now it would be part of the punter’s duty of care not to underestimate a horse ridden by Cornish on the basis that numbered amongst her list of winners during August were horses with starting prices of $10, $21 and $41, so the warning was there before Mottram saluted at odds of $17.
However, Cornish did provide some relief for those who wanted to stay in their comfort zone of backing well fancied horses though, when she brought home the $2.60 favourite Funny Money for trainer Stuart Kendrick later in the day, giving Cornish a well-earned race-day double. Read more ...
CORNISH CANES THE PUNTERS AND THEN BECOMES THEIR BEST FRIEND (AUGUST 28)
______________________________________________________________________
The Kelvin Tyler trained Master Marko’s came into a Class 3 Plate over 1700m at the Gold Coast on August 26 with enough credentials to gain a good measure of support which saw him start as a $4.40 second favourite.
Jasmine Cornish had ridden the son of Contributer in his previous three starts, claiming two third places (at the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast) with the gelding also putting in a positive performance in town when unplaced, but only a touch over two lengths behind the winner.
Master Marko came back in distance here, from the 2060m of that run at Doomben to 1700m.
Cornish pushed Master Marko out early to gain a position on the speed after jumping from a wide draw, and the four-year-old settled second in the early part, taking a sit just over a length off the $101 rank outsider He’s Viral, who carted the field down the back stretch.
Approaching the 1000m mark, another outsider, the $61 chance Jimmy The Tulip, who had been held wide, began to sweep past on the outside of Master Marko, but Cornish immediately responded to that move asking Master Marko to quicken himself to prevent Jimmy The Tulip from crossing the Tyler trained runner. Read more ...
MASTER MARKO'S MEASURED RUN CARRIES THE DAY (AUGUST 26)
______________________________________________________________________
The Harry Richardson trained Jazz was only having her eighth career start (as a seven-year-old) when he stepped out to contest a Maiden Plate over 1788m at Dalby on August 25.
In essence, the daughter of Drumbeats had largely been struggling in her previous seven starts, but, if there was any beacon of light in those results, it was that her two closest finishes came at the Dalby track, her third place finish back on December 16 being her best result prior to this latest run.
That run was over 1200m and Richardson had tried her over 1400m and the 1666m in subsequent runs (without any great effect), but he continued that distance push here asking Jazz to try again at 1788m. Read more ...
JAZZ AND JASMINE PLAY A WINNING TUNE (AUGUST 25)
____________________________________________________________________
The Stewart McKinnon trained Wine Not Roses, who had scored six minor placings in her last eight starts going into a Fillies And Mares Class 1 Handicap over 1000m on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track on August 21, claimed a overdue win when she took care of business to see off the challenge of Been A While by a one length margin.
While those second and third places piled up in-between wins, you had to go all the way back to January 7 to find Wine Not Roses’ Maiden win … which also came on the Poly Track surface.
This time she would make no mistake and would put her second career win in the record books with a focussed and committed effort.
Wine Not Roses ($2.60) landed in midfield before Jasmine Cornish pushed her forward, settling the four-year-old mare into second place, in-between runners, just a neck off the leader Been A While ($4) … a position Cornish was content to maintain until the field straightened for home. Read more ...
CORNISH GUIDES WINE NOT ROSES TO AN OVERDUE WIN (AUGUST 20)
______________________________________________________________________
Back from a quick freshen-up, Jasmine Cornish returned to the saddle after a well-earned weeks holiday … and she wasted no time in putting that ‘comeback’ win on the board when she partnered the Toby and Trent Edmonds trained Philly Special to an emphatic victory in the Fillies And Mares BM62 Handicap over 1200m at the Gold Coast on August 20.
After scoring one win in four starts in her first preparation, Philly Special spent more than a year away from race action before winning first up at Ipswich on June 30 in a Class 1 contest over 1200m.
That one was particularly encouraging, as was her follow-up effort in which she finished second, just a length off the winner in a BM65 race at the Gold Coast a month after her first-up run … so, although it had It has not been all clear sailing for Team Edmonds with the I Am Invincible mare (at that stage Philly Special had had nine trials and only six race starts) the lightly raced five-year-old had plenty to recommend her chances coming into the race.
PHILLY SPECIAL LOOKING VERY PROMISING (AUGUST 20)
______________________________________________________________________
It is pretty much a pattern for many jockeys to take a short break around the end of the racing season to recharge and to perhaps reflect and set new goals for the next twelve months.
Most welcome the break, but others like the newly crowned Queensland Apprentice Jockey Premiership winner Jasmine Cornish, find it harder to step away from racing when they are not injured or suspended with many rides on offer … it irks her, to say the least … but it is the sensible thing to do and so Cornish reluctantly submitted to some pre-arranged downtime by taking a week’s holiday away after riding at the midweek Metropolitan meeting at Doomben on July 10.
Cornish had six-hundred-and-sixty-four rides last season across Country, Provincial and Metropolitan racing … a huge workload … so she clearly deserved the break … but, given her mindset of wanting to get on with it, you can only imagine the enthusiasm with which she will tackle her riding assignments when she returns to action at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (AUGUST 18)
_____________________________________________________________________
A new season.
Jasmine Cornish certainly has her followers … as shown by the cheer squad that loudly celebrated her return to scale on the two winners she piloted to victory at the Gold Coast on August 6, the opening Saturday of the 2022/23 racing season.
Cornish would quickly add another winner to her tally at a meeting at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday August 7 … making it a good start for the 2021/22 Queensland Apprentice Jockey’s Provincial Premiership winner … but hardened punters and cheer squads are two different entities and Cornish left many punters reeling when her three weekend winners came home at odds of $10, $21 and $41 … with even longer prices being offered on some of these runners in the pre-race betting. Read more ...
CORNISH SHINES ON THREE UNLIKELY WINNERS (AUGUST 6)
_____________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish is the 2021/22 Queensland Provincial Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership winner.
The fact that the title chase could not have been more hard-fought and hard-earned only adds to the merit and significance of Cornish’s achievement.
Her physical workload, literally second to none in the provincial field, could easily have taken its toll on a rider with less conviction … but Cornish kept coming.
Her mental toughness, which was continually tested over the final month of the season, could easily have wavered under pressure … but Cornish never blinked.
At the final count, there was only half-a-win in it as Cornish edged out Angela Jones in the head-bobber … in the photo-finish that Cornish herself had predicted it would come down to in the end.
In fact, it finally all came down to race five at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday July 31, the fifth last race of the season … at which stage Cornish held that half-a-win advantage over Jones, who was having her last ride of the season.
A win for Jones on the Tony Gollan trained Kinetic would have reversed the Premiership order. Kinetic was only a $16 chance … but, you have got a ticket, you have got a chance and it was always a given that Jones would give the ride her all.
Cornish did not have a ride in the race so she could only watch from the sidelines. Read more ...
CORNISH CLAIMS A HARD-FOUGHT PREMIERSHIP WIN (JULY 30)
_____________________________________________________________________
A double at the Gold Coast on July 16. A win at Toowoomba on July 23. A win at the Sunshine Coast on July 25. A win at Doomben on July 27. A win at Ipswich on July 29 … and Jasmine Cornish would now add another level to that layer of consistency by scoring what would be the decisive win of her season when she piloted the Liam Birchley trained Bungarribee Lad to victory at Toowoomba in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark Handicap over 1200m on July 30.
This win put Cornish two-and-a-half wins in front of Angela Jones in the Queensland Provincial Apprentice Jockey Premiership and, although Jones would fight back bravely with two winners of her own on the night, that half-a-win advantage that Cornish would take into the final day of the season at the Sunshine Coast on July 31, would be enough for her to secure the title and a significant achievement in its own right.
Bungarribee Lad had won two of his previous three starts going into this contest, but as they were achieved at country meetings at Moranbah (when still with trainer Bevan Johnson) and Nanango (after the stable switch to Liam Birchley), the four-year-old son of Bagger Vance went off at a starting price of $9. Read more ...
CORNISH LANDS THE DECISIVE WIN OF HER SEASON (JULY 30)
_______________________________________________________________________
Trainer Les Ross and owner Mike Crooks have been solid supporters of Jasmine Cornish and it was only fitting somehow that they should play a part in the home straight in Cornish’s title chase.
Cornish had only had one previous ride aboard the Ross trained Mishani Fraudster and that was a winning one when the duo saluted over 1100m at Ipswich in a BM62 on December 24, 2021. That was also Mishani Fraudster’s only previous start at Ipswich, so effectively Cornish and Mishani Fraudster had a perfect record at the Ipswich track … and they would go on with it when they stepped out to contest a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m at the track on July 29.
Mishani Fraudster had, in fact, won his last start leading into the race. That was first-up, on the Poly Track, after a five month break from racing, so he was presented fitter for that run and gathered enough support on the betting boards to start favourite at $3.40.
Jumping from gate ten could have presented problems, but Mishani Fraudster made light work of that supposed disadvantage, responding to Cornish’s urgings with telling gate speed to spear to the lead with enough of a flourish to be able to comfortably cross the field and move clear to hold an early advantage of two lengths. Read more ...
MISHANI PLAYS IT PART IN THE CORNISH SUCCESS STORY (JULY 29)
______________________________________________________________________
A metropolitan win in town for Jasmine Cornish … just ticking another box … came on July 27 at Doomben when Hoot ‘N’ Holler landed a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1200m, making it three wins in a row for the very promising daughter of Holler.
Cornish had partnered Hoot ‘N’ Holler in her previous start in which she took out a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1100m at the Gold Coast. She rode it to perfection that time … and again gave her a ten out of ten ride here.
Hoot ‘N’ Holler ($4.20) landed in the leading line, but Cornish then let the Robert Heathcote trained runner settle and find her feet, going back to second, then third, then fourth in the back straight, but always staying within three lengths of the lead.
Hoot ‘N’ Holler was taken three wide on the turn by Cornish, allowing the filly to straighten in clear air and able to line up a straight run to the line.
At that stage Cripps Tonite (the $2.80 favourite), who had led from the break, was trying to kick away again at the head of affairs, but Cornish now had Hoot ‘N’ Holler in full chase mode and she gradually began to reel in the long-time leader. Read more ...
HOOT 'N' HOLLER ROUNDS OFF HER 2YO CAREER IN STYLE (JULY 27)
_____________________________________________________________________
With the Gold Coast meeting being abandoned on Saturday July 23, Jasmine Cornish took the trip up to Toowoomba for two rides … one of which turned into a winner in the form of the $10 chance Courtingrock in a Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap over 1200m.
It had taken the Bob Chessher trained mare nineteen runs to earn her place in the winner’s enclosure, but she had given a hint of an impending win with her second place, third place and two fourth place finishes in the last four runs prior to this engagement.
Courtingrock was caught four wide in the early part and will still held three wide, in sixth place, but only a little over two-and-a-half lengths off the very keenly contested lead after the field had travelled 200m.
With nowhere to get in Cornish and Courtingrock went back to six lengths off the lead at the start of the sweep to the home turn but, with 500m left to run, Cornish made her move, urging Courtingrock to improve and the daughter of The Fatman responded well, grinding her way into a challenging position, now just a little over two lengths off the frontrunning Wicked ‘N’ Lovin’ It ($10) as the field turned for home. Read more ...
ANOTHER TWO IMPORTANT WINS FOR CORNISH (JULY 25)
_____________________________________________________________________
In fairness, connections probably didn’t quite know what to expect from World Charmer when the lightly raced five-year-old mare faced the starter in a BM58 contest over 1100m at Gatton on July 22.
It was the daughter of Charm Spirit’s first run for trainer Greg Cornish who was the fourth trainer to be given charge of World Charmer in a little over a year ... a fact which arguably suggested the horse had some issues.
The Cornish team never doubted the fact that World Charmer did have some ability, but she was taken on as very much a work in progress by Greg Cornish, who took her through two successful trials (where she finished third in one and won the other), but race-day remained something still to be conquered.
And, at one stage, that did look to be a mountain to climb … as shown in these two relevant extracts from the official steward’s report on the first two occasions that World Charmer was due to race for the Cornish stable.
On February 9: World Charmer was declared a late scratching at 5:43pm by Stewards for being excessively fractious in the mounting yard with its rider unable to be safely mounted.
And then, on March 23: The start of this race was delayed when World Charmer when entering the track failed to proceed to the barriers. The mare was subsequently declared a late scratching by order of the Stewards. Read more ...
WORLD CHARMER SHOWS HER WORTH (JULY 22)
_____________________________________________________________________
The top apprentice riders in Queensland have served up a treat this season in their pursuit of Premiership honours.
The battle for the Brisbane Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey Premiership between Kyle Wilson-Taylor and Jaden Lloyd was a cut and thrust affair for months until a combination of Wilson-Taylor edging ahead and Lloyd picking up a suspension put that title chase to rest in favour of Wilson-Taylor.
But another Apprentice Premiership fire is still raging.
Angela Jones and Jasmine Cornish are locked in a titanic struggle for the honours for the Queensland Provincial Apprentice Jockey Premiership, with Jones only just having her nose in front by a mere half-a-win (77 to 76.5) as they hit the final stretch.
Saturday’s results aptly summed up just how competitive this race is.
Cornish started the day that half-a-win behind Jones. Two winners at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon put Cornish a win-and-a-half ahead … but Jones fought back immediately with a couple of winners of her own at Toowoomba on Saturday night for the two riders to end the day exactly where they had started on the ladder.
And that is how the ebb and flow of battle has gone on between them over the weeks … with neither being able to steal a break on the other. Read More ...
APPRENTICES DOING THEMSELVES AND RACING PROUD (JULY 19)
____________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish partnered the Ben Hull trained Commandeering to his seventh career victory in a BM70, 800m dash at Ipswich on July 14 adding another positive chapter to the extraordinary career of the Commands gelding.
Every horse has its story and Commandeering’s is a fascinating one, not least because of what the seven-year-old had to overcome to still be with us today, a back story that embraces both the resilience of the horse itself and the kindness of all of those who cared so much for Commandeering in a way that will always stand to their credit. (See links to two separate stories on that subject below). Read more ...
CORNISH BECOMES PART OF THE COMMANDEERING STORY AS THE GELDING LANDS ITS SEVENTH WIN (JULY 14)
______________________________________________________________________
Days on her home track aren’t ever likely to come much bigger than this for Jasmine Cornish.
Every jockey wants to win their home-town cup and Cornish ticked that box off on July 9 when the smart Lemon Duchess turned in a typical, fully committed performance to ultimately prevail in the Beaudesert Cup by a 0.20 length margin from the race favourite Azarmin.
The Cup victory was always going to be the main course of the day, but the fact that Cornish had earlier serve up another landmark win as an entrée … landing her one hundredth career win aboard the Les Ross trained Alert State (see separate story) made the results of the day just that much more complete.
The Greg Cornish trained Lemon Duchess has proved to be a revelation since teaming up with Jasmine Cornish.
Cornish has ridden the four-year-old daughter of Tycoon Ruler in twelve of her twenty-eight starts and they have returned as winners on no less than six of those occasions (with two runner-up finishes), including a run of four wins and an oh so close second place in their last six starts … with that second placing coming in Lemon Duchess’s first metropolitan run. Read more ...
A BIG HOME TOWN CUP VICTORY FOR TEAM CORNISH (JULY 9)
_____________________________________________________________________
It was a special victory for Jasmine Cornish when the Les Ross trained Alert State won a QTIS Two-Year-Old handicap over 1100m at Beaudesert on July 9 … as the young riders personal scoreboard ticked over to one hundred winners.
Getting to that landmark win, as quickly as Cornish has, absolutely stands to her credit.
A four-horse race, as was the case here, can often be tactically demanding and the only time you know you have made the right call in that regard is when you pass the post.
The way the race unfolded was typical of that scenario.
Cornish jumped Alert State ($2.70) into the lead at the break but, by the time the field had gone 300m, Alert State had gone back to last, albeit only two to three lengths off the new leader, the $2.20 favourite Silvanna’s Song.
Halfway through the 1100m contest, Alert State was up to third and, by the time the field straightened for home Alert State had joined in a line of three runners vying for the honours. Read more ...
HUNDRED-UP FOR JASMINE CORNISH (JULY 9)
______________________________________________________________________
With three weeks of the 2021/22 season left to go, Jasmine Cornish has already taken 575 race rides this season.
To put that workload in perspective, if you take the average number of races at a meeting as eight and divide that into Cornish’s 575 rides … it means that her rides would account for a full book of rides for all eight races at no less than a full seventy-two race meetings. That’s a quite staggering statistic for anyone, but particularly so for an apprentice rider.
A strange example … maybe … but, if nothing else, it highlights Cornish’s terrific commitment to her career at a stage in which she is still very much in a learning curve and nothing beats managing the learning curve best than gaining experience … and, boy, is she making certain she gets as much of that as possible.
HRO’s monthly catch-up with Cornish gave further insight into the world of fast emerging apprentice. But, before we go there, Cornish wanted to show her solidarity and support for the jockeys who have sadly suffered serious injuries in the last week.
“It’s an incredibly sad time and I’m obviously thinking of the three jockeys involved, and their families, and hoping for the very best outcome for them all,” said Cornish.
As we all are.
Well said Jasmine. Read more ...
CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH (JULY 8)
_____________________________________________________________________
A first visit to MacKay. A first winner at MacKay.
That was the story as it was ‘boxed ticked’ for Jasmine Cornish as she added yet another track to the list of venues where she has saluted, doing so in her very first visit to Mackay … on her very first ride at the track … on July 1.
Cornish’s winner came in the form of a pick-up ride aboard the Liam Birchley trained Real Tidy in a Maiden Handicap over 1100m. She thus continued her habit of announcing her presence with an early winner when riding at a new racing precinct … which is no mean feat in itself.
Real Tidy is a very lightly raced four-year-old who had hardly set the town alight before this run. In fact, she finished unplaced in all four of her previous starts, but they all came in the period between September 11 and October 20 in 2021 … and she came into the race at Mackay as the fresh horse resuming after a full eight months away from race action, a expected plus which helped see her installed as a close-up $3.60 second favourite behind Cooeebaymagic ($3.40).
A FIRST VISIT TO MACKAY. A FIRST WINNER AT MACKAY (JULY 1)
_____________________________________________________________________
One of the tricks to plotting a successful path as a jockey is to start riding winners for big stables.
It is not a magic trick though, but rather a hard-earned step-by-step process. In the first place you have to be given the opportunity and, secondly, you have to make the most of the ride or rides you are given.
When a top stable gives an apprentice a ride the main reason is usually to give their horse some weight relief, but it can also be that they have seen enough potential in a young rider to make it worth the risk that their inexperience brings … and when multiple Group 1 winning trainer and multiple Brisbane Trainer’s Premiership winner Robert Heathcote elected to put Jasmine Cornish on Platini in a Class 4 Handicap over 1350m at the Gold Coast on June 25, you would have to think that both of those factors were in play in terms of rider selection Read more ...
CORNISH MAKES THE MOST OF AN OPPORTUNITY HANDED TO HER BY A TOP BRISBANE STABLE (JUNE 25)
_____________________________________________________________________
On June 3, after Lemon Duchess had won for the third time in four starts since resuming from a long spell, apprentice jockey Jasmine Cornish (who had partnered the mare in all of those victories) had gone on record saying that she didn’t want to make the move to town at this stage … but that she might make an exception to partner the four-year-old mare.
And that proved to be the case when Cornish arrived to experience metropolitan racing for the first time at Doomben on June 22.
While Lemon Duchess was the magnet that drew Cornish into town, she would only run in the last race of the day … so pride of place as Cornish’s first metropolitan ride went to the Greg Cornish trained Bold Ransom (who would finish unplaced) … and then came a second ride aboard the Donald Baker trained Bean Dancing (for another experience gathering, but unplaced finish).
Lemon Duchess was why she came to the meeting tough and you could see why as Cornish and the daughter of Tycoon Ruler oh so nearly came, saw and conquered in a thrilling finish that all came down to the last few strides. Read more ...
ALMOST ... JASMINE CORNISH FALLS JUST SHORT OF MAKING HER FIRST TRIP TO TOWN A WINNING ONE (JUNE 22)
_______________________________________________________________________
In only her second meeting back from suspension Jasmine Cornish was back in the winner’s enclosure … with the latest win coming aboard the Andrew Cameron trained So You Dream at Townsville in an Open Handicap over 1400m … a winner which came back at the delicious odds, for some, of $14.
It was Cornish’s third ride on the seven-year-old gelding and their run of results … all in Open Handicaps, all at Townsville … indicated a natural progression of form.Read more ...
BACK IN THE WINNER'S ENCLOSURE (JUNE 16)
_____________________________________________________________________
“I’m happy with how things are going. I’m getting quite a few rides. I had eleven rides yesterday (Saturday June 4) – five at the Gold Coast (for two second placings) and six at Toowoomba (for one win), so I am being given opportunities," said Jasmine Cornish.
“There were quite few different trainers and new trainers that I rode for yesterday as well. It was a long day and I slept pretty well last night, that’s for sure.
“That’s how I stay fit … just riding work and race-day.
“I had those three race meetings along the way, just getting quite a few seconds, so it was good to bounce back with two winners on Friday and Saturday.
“Lemon Duchess (who won at the Sunshine Coast on Friday June 3 for the second successive time and for the third time in her last four starts) … yeah, she is going so well at the moment. Read more ...
A PROGRESS CHECK – WITH EMERGING APPRENTICE JASMINE CORNISH (JUNE 5)
______________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish landed her winner for the day at the seventh time of asking on Saturday June 4.
The young apprentice took five rides at the Gold Coast and then travelled the 185km to Toowoomba to ride in another six races and it was ride number seven aboard the Matt Kropp trained Festival Prince that brought the desired result.
Festival Prince has always been a more than useful performer. He was sent back to the paddock after a lack-lustre debut, but, when he resumed, he was a different horse running up no less than five successive wins from August 14, 2021 through to November 6, 2021.
Cornish had partnered the son of Fruehling in two of those victories. Read more ...
FESTIVAL PRINCE WINS HIS SIXTH RACE FROM TEN STARTS (JUNE 4)
____________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish gets on very well with the Greg Cornish trained Lemon Duchess.
When Lemon Duchess, the four-year-old daughter of Tycoon Ruler, came to the Sunshine Coast for her engagement in a Filles And Mares BM60 Handicap over 1400m on June 3, she had already won two out her last three starts.
Those wins came in a Fillies And Mares BM58 Handicap on a Heavy 10 track over 1150m at Ipswich (by the narrowest of margins) on March 31 … and in a BM65 Handicap over 1400m on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track (by just under half-a-length) on May 15.
That winning form, plus the commitment she showed in both of those finishes, were huge plusses going into the race where she was seeking to earn back-to-back wins (just seven days apart) for the first time in her career … but punters turned elsewhere, allowing Lemon Duchess to start at $10. Read more ...
BACK TO BACK WINS FOR LEMON DUCHESS (JUNE 3)
_____________________________________________________________________
A winner at Rockhampton on Friday, May 27 … and then a winner at Toowoomba on Saturday May 28 … with just the small matter of 650km between the two locations.
Jockeys these days have to take the travel load in their stride if they are to get ahead, but a winner always helps to ease the travel fatigue and that is what Keepmoving Forward would have done for Cornish when the pair saluted in 0-65 Handicap over 1210m at Toowoomba on May 28.
Cornish pushed Keepmoving Forward out beautifully at the break and the $4.40 favourite took up the running in the early part but, when the $31 outsider Hedonie wanted the lead and set off a breakaway speed, Cornish was happy to let that one go, as she was with Master Red ($4.60) who also eased past Keepmoving Forward going down the back stretch. Read more ...
KEEPMOVING FORWARD SCORES COURAGEOUS WIN (MAY 28)
_______________________________________________________________________
The best way for a jockey to gain attention when they ride in a new racing precinct is to land an early strike … and Jasmine Cornish could not have been any quicker in announcing her arrival in Rockhampton when she brought home a winner in her very first ride at the track in a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1200m on May 27.
That winner, the well performed two-year-old filly Tequila Dancer, had won at Toowoomba over 1000m just ten days earlier and, on the back of that win, she started as second favourite at $3.20 behind the Clinton Taylor trained Betterdeel ($2.40).Read more ...
CORNISH ANNOUNCES HER ARRIVAL IN ROCKHAMPTON IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS (MAY 27)
_____________________________________________________________________
After putting her toe in the water in North Queensland (where she rode two winners in her first two meetings at Townsville) Jasmine Cornish is now expanding her opportunities up north by accepting rides in Rockhampton, where she will be in action today.
The young rider took the initial change of scenery in her stride. Her past record brought her good support from trainers in Townsville where she had nine rides over the two meetings for no less than six different trainers.
“Ricky Ludwig invited me to ride Lord Of Light,” said Cornish, explaining how the call to go to Townsville came about. “The first time I rode him (on May 6) he came third. Ricky Ludwig had said before that the plan was, if he ran well, to come up and ride him again in two week’s time in the big Jewel race (the $105 000 Townsville QTIS Three-Year-Old Jewel Handicap on May 20). Read more ...
AND NOW FOR ROCKHAMPTON …(MAY 27)
______________________________________________________________________
It will be a measured process of course, but North Queensland could well be set to become a happy hunting ground for apprentice Jasmine Cornish in the future.
A second visit to Townsville this month saw the young rider move her scoreboard along once again … she also had a winner (The Egyptian) at her previous visit to Townsville … with a winning ride aboard the Leslie Gordy trained Boona Boy (the $2.80 second favourite) in a 0-65 Handicap over 1609m on May 20,
The Spill The Beans gelding took a few strides to settle into his rhythm at the jump, but then quickly improved from fourth into third spot shortly after the start while crossing to claim the inside run just two lengths off the leader, Courtesy Bus, as the $2.30 favourite tried to make every post a winning one.Read more ...
CORNISH KICKS OFF HER NORTH QUEENSLAND TALLY WITH TWO WINNERS IN TWO MEETINGS (MAY 20)
______________________________________________________________________
The Greg Cornish trained Lemon Duchess gained her fifth career victory when she stayed on strongly under the superb handling of Jasmine Cornish to win a BM65 Handicap over 1400m on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track on May 15.
It was the last race on a big ten race card … but, for those following the stable, it was worth the wait, particularly at odds of $26!
This was the fourth time that Cornish had won on Lemon Duchess in nine rides on the four-year-old (underlining just what a useful horse and rider partnership this is) … and it was also the second win in three starts this preparation for the daughter of Tycoon Ruler. Read more ...
LEMON DUCHESS STRIKES FOR TEAM CORNISH AT $26 (MAY 15)
_______________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish had eight rides at Ipswich on May 7 where her best results were one win, one second place, one third place and one fourth place.
The win came aboard the Les Ross trained River Rocket in a BM62 Handicap (for colts, geldings and entires) over 1350m.
The fact that Sacred Oath ($1.60) started as a short-priced favourite in the race allowed River Rocket, who was rated as the only threat to the favourite in the betting, to start at $4.
The other five horses in the race were all quoted at double figure odds.
The betting had pinpointed the only two horses who would ultimately have a say in the race, but it had got the result the wrong way around. Read more...
RIVER ROCKET UPSTAGES THE HOT FAVOURITE (MAY 7)
_________________________________________________________________________
Travelling to North Queensland to take rides where they can is a regular beat for both established jockeys looking to make a living and young apprentices looking to gain experience … and Jasmine Cornish turned that into a successful trip when she piloted the Clinton Taylor trained The Egyptian to a comfortable victory in an Open Handicap over 1000m at Townsville on May 6 … a day after she had won a race at Gatton. Reade more ...
THE EGYPTIAN IMPRESSES AS CORNISH MAKES THE TRIP TO TOWNSVILLE WORTHWHILE (MAY 6)
________________________________________________________________________
The John Zielke trained Ain’t She Lovely, a $21 chance, proved too strong for her rivals in a BM62 Handicap over 1100m at Gatton on May 5.
Zielke entrusted top apprentice Jasmine Cornish with the ride on Ain’t She Lovely for the first time and horse and rider defied the long odds with an inch perfect front-running performance which saw the good-looking chestnut filly hold on to win by a half-length margin from the faster finishing Miss Barty ($4.80). Read more ...
AIN'T SHE LOVELY LIVES UP TO HER LOOKS (MAY 5)
________________________________________________________________________
Jasmine Cornish officially hit the race riding scene for the first time on April 25, 2021.
It was appropriate in many ways that the race took place at Cornish’s home track of Beaudesert, riding for her family’s stable (Greg Cornish) on a horse, Rocky Nugget, who was Sheree Drake’s last winner before a serious ankle injury forced her to retire as a jockey.
Less than two weeks later, on May 7 at Gatton, Cornish had landed her first career victory on a horse called Mighty Moose … and she has been working hard since then as evidenced by the fact that his first year in the saddle yielded no less than 86 winners (at a winning strike rate of 15 percent), 162 places (a win / place strike rate of 43%) from 580 rides … which translates to an average of a little over eleven rides a week. Read more ...
ONE YEAR DOWN … AND WHAT A TWELVE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN FOR JASMINE CORNISH (APR 25)
More articles
|