Fierce wind another variable for Stony Creek jockeys
EVERYONE knows you have to find a good position early at Stony Creek and also to save something going up the hill to the finish line, but there was another viable that jockeys had to be mindful of at the local racecourse on Thursday, January 18 –...
EVERYONE knows you have to find a good position early at Stony Creek and also to save something going up the hill to the finish line, but there was another viable that jockeys had to be mindful of at the local racecourse on Thursday, January 18 – the wind.
On one of the windiest days experienced at Stony Creek, riders reported the importance of trying “to get some cover” especially along the back of the track as the wind really ripped into the front runners opening up the contest for late swoopers.
And there proved to be a few of those on a day of interesting racing.
The favourite Eagle Warrior for the Cranbourne stable of Griffiths and De Kock got punters off on the right foot with jockey Lauchie King setting the pattern for others to follow when he came from 5th at the 400 metre mark to grab the pace setter Redskin Jimmy and go on to a half length win.
Everyone was tipped out in the second race when Jade Da Rose got the better of a fast-finishing brigade to bring the 100-1 chance Grand Illusion home in the second.
The Shae Eden trained Jipushi was one of the fancied runners in the third race and came home the easiest of winners under the guidance of Theo Nugent by four lengths and shapes as a winner at the higher grades.
The well-backed runner Just Bolts was one of those who paid the price for leading and facing the wind throughout the run, being caught on the line by Jacob Noonan on Midnight Poker at 10-1 in the fourth race.
Abaddon was one of the runners considered at odds in a tough betting race, the fifth, and with Lauren Burke keeping him under cover until the last minute, he found the line well to beat another fancied frontrunner in I’m Cheeky.
Juice Box was a popular winner at a short price in the sixth, with Caitlin Hollowood in the saddle.
Sisu made it two wins-in-a-row at Stony Creek for trainer Paul Worthington, at the very attractive odds of 11-1 with jockey Jason Maskiell doing the minimum of work, covered up on the fence but also close handy for a late strike.
The more fancied runner Nightsun had to work to hard to find the front and couldn’t quite go on in the finish but is certainly one to watch from race 7.
In the last, Theo Nugent completed a double on a successful day for him when he brought Peppino from midfield to grab the leader Takara in the shadows of the post.
The wind blew all day at the races and brought down trees across the district following on from the wet weather we’ve had lately.
The remaining race meetings at Stony Creek this season are
* Tuesday 6th February 2024 - Publican's Day
* Sunday 10th March 2024 - Ladbrokes Stony Creek Cup.
