ENGLISH jockey Will Gordon is in top form and likely to be prominent again during Saturday’s second day of the Mildura Cup Carnival as he has five rides on the program at Sandilong Park.
Due to the lockdown, the meeting will be closed to the public and only the required industry participants and staff are allowed to be on-course. It can be viewed on the free-to-air Racing.Com program on Channel 68.
Gordon has been mixing jumps and flat racing over recent months and has formed a top association with Plumpton trainer Patrick Payne, which looks like continuing on Saturday.
Gordon moved to New Zealand in 2016 and, after a short stint there, he then came to Australia and he is now regarded as one of the best jumps jockeys in the state.
He will be aboard What A Sham, Imposing Brook and Grizzlies for the Payne stable and they are all leading chances, along with Annemiek for Echuca trainer Michael Newton and in-form galloper Fratello.
Fratello has a liking for the Mildura circuit and the seven-year-old from the Dane Smith stable at Stawell can continue on his winning ways in the ENG Media Big Screen Hire Handicap.
Fratello has two wins and two placings from five outings at the Mildura circuit and he is drawn to get a good run from barrier 3, so another victory is on the cards.
The race has attracted a handy field as Simon Says, from the Mark Pegus stable, has finished third at his past four outings and is nearing a win, while Braekhus has displayed talent, including a win at Horsham in her second race start at her previous preparation.
Braekhus will appreciate the 2000m journey and should be strong late for the training and riding combination of Austy and Harry Coffey.
Swan Hill trainer Nathan Hobson has a five-horse team at the meeting and strong winning hopes with Toojay in the Trentham Estate Handicap as well as Sandhill in the bet365 Handicap.
Toojay has had one start at the track – a fast-finishing victory on May 30 – and he has continued to race well since then with second placings at Swan Hill and Donald, so he should go close to retaining his unbeaten status in Mildura.
Stablemate Sandhill looks a good each-way hope in the sixth as he is also racing well with a win at Swan Hill on April 16 and he battled on strongly at his latest outing to finish third at Echuca on July 3.
The first of seven races is the Mildura Party Hire Maiden Plate to be run at 12.21pm and the interesting runner of the field is first starter Mongolian Flame, who will be ridden by former Brazilian jockey Bruno Neto.
Mongolian Flame is from the Brent Stanley stable at Sutton Grange and the three-year-old is ready to run a big race at her debut after recording an easy trial win at Bendigo recently on a heavy surface.
Stanley has a three-horse team here and they will all be ridden by Neto.
The jockey spent 15 years riding in Ireland and England before returning to Brazil and rode group and listed winners before moving to Sydney about 18 months ago.The 34-year-old has ridden more than 100 winners during his overseas career. He will have a top opportunity to bring up his first win in Australia in the opening race with Mongolian Flame.Selections:
Race 1: What A Sham, Mongolian Flame, Gold Logie, Thunder Park
Race 2: Easy Single, Imposing Brook, Hunka Hunka Harry, Pocket Rox
Race 3: Grizzlies, Savvy Sovereign, Rose Cuvee, Don’t Forget Dad
Race 4: Fratello, Simon Says, Braekhus, All Fairy Prince
Race 5: Toojay, Fortyfivedegrees, Wasabi, Tycoon Ronnie
Race 6: Sandhill, Tsushima, Azoustic, Highway To Success
Race 7: Sidewalk Sinner, The Siscos Kid, High Delta, The Phantom Bantam
