THURSDAY: July 1, 2021: RACHEL King became the first female to win the Hawkesbury jockeys’ premiership last season, and isn’t giving up her title without a fight.
Whilst Mark Newnham sealed his first ever training premiership with another winner today, King was also hard at work to ensure the riding premiership is going right down to the wire at the last meeting of the racing year on Sunday week.
The expatriate English woman racked up a double to draw level with Jason Collett (14 wins apiece), who didn’t ride at today’s meeting.
King scored on Rupertaar ($3.40) for Bjorn Baker in the XXXX Gold 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m), and $7 chance Pluck and Lucky for Allan Denham in the Elite Sand & Soil F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).
Both Collett and King might need to look over their shoulders at the season finale as Tommy Berry and Keagan Latham (12 wins each) and Josh Parr (11) are within striking distance.
Latham’s late season surge for premiership honours came closer to reality with a double on $21 outsider Cueillir for Baker in the Blakes Marine Maiden Plate (1100m) and Adamas Prince ($6.50) for Hawkesbury’s Edward Cummings in the Killahy Equine CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).
Understandably, Latham’s clever ride earned deserved praise from Group 1 winning trainer Cummings, who continued his breakout season by preparing his 12th winner.
“Keagan is a very good rider who is starting to get the recognition he deserves,” Cummings said this evening.
“He gave Adamas Prince a great ride, getting him out first and then taking a trail before easing around the leaders’ heels on straightening.
“Like a number of our horses, Adamas Prince has had a stop-start preparation, and we have just had to persevere and continue working with him.
“After disappointing on the Kensington track on Anzac Day, I freshened him and he ran a nice second at Hawkesbury on June 13 when Keagan rode him.
“He confirmed that form today and was strong through the line.”
Cummings believes Adamas Prince, a well-named three-year-old son of War (Adamas is the Greek god of conquest), will eventually make his mark in town now that he has struck form again.
The trainer’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Duais is still enjoying her winter spell in Queensland.
“She will stay there for another couple of weeks before coming back to Hawkesbury,” Cummings said.
“Her progress will determine if she trials in Sydney and then goes to Melbourne.”
Duais’ brilliant autumn and winter three-year-old form has seen her installed on the ninth line of betting at $26 in TAB.com.au’s pre-noms market for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 16, with Brisbane’s latest winter carnival sensation Incentivise the current $7 favorite.
. Newnham’s victory with former Melbourne filly Stormborn ($3 favorite) in the St Johns Park Bowling Club Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) ensured his trainers’ premiership success.
It was his 15th winner of the season, and he holds an unassailable six-win over Kris Lees and Peter and Paul Snowden, neither troubling the scorer today.
Lees came closest with his promising import Sacramento Joe ($5), who was a strong-finishing second to $2.60 favorite Duke Of Buckingham in the Living Turf Class 1 Handicap (1600m) at his first start since winning over 2000m at Hawkesbury in early March.
Unfortunately, when being loaded onto the float for the trip back to Newcastle, Sacramento Joe became fractious, shifted both hind plates and sustained injuries to his off hind leg and lacerations to his near hind leg.
The horse required treatment and was referred to Randwick Equine Clinic for further examination.