Oliver Fined for Lack of Vigour
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
Premiership winning rider Damien Oliver was today
fined by Melbourne stewards who ruled that he failed to ride out one of his mounts at
today's Sandown meeting.Stewards fined Oliver $300 for failing to ride Just Like Kelly out to the line in the Galway Handicap. That galloper finished fifth in the race.
The Galway Handicap was won by the Russell Cameron trained Umatilla gelding Prospector's Dream.
The six-year-old scored a fighting half length win over the John Hawkes trained Periscope.
Cameron made it a double later in the afternoon when Brett Prebble guided Bella Moxie to a strong win in the last race of the day, the Leopardstown Handicap.
Meanwhile, experienced hoop Brian Werner rode his first city winner of 2002 when the Blakey trained Sergio proved much too strong in the Sport 927 Handicap.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Murray Bridge Cup Shake Up
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
The listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup, which will be run on Saturday September 28, is now worth $60,000, of which the winner will received over $40,000 plus a trophy.
This year's race will be run over 1600 metres, shortened some 800 metres from last year's distance of 2400 metres.
Last year's running of the race was won by the Victorian visitor Fraar Magic, who got up to beat the local outsider Accelerating in the shadows of the post.
Seamer and Marshall Both City Winners
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
Top jockeys Scott Seamer and Simon Marshall both
rode comeback city winners at different east coast meetings this afternoon.Seamer teamed up with top Gold Coast based trainer Gerald Ryan to win at Eagle Farm today with Sky Royal in the Phar Lap Handicap (1800m).
It was the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper winning jockey's first city winner since returning to the saddle from injury.
Seamer had only just begun a riding stint in Hong Kong last season when he suffered crushed vertebrae.
He made his comeback to race riding but missed a place on Calaway Gal in the San Domenico Stakes in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Simon Marshall has continued his
fairytale comeback to the saddle with a winner at his first meeting in Sydney.
Just over a week ago Marshall rode a double at his first meeting back, at the Gold Coast in Queensland - the first for Gerald Ryan, the trainer Marshall had based himself with in preparation for the return.
The Jim Lee trained Prude (20/1) was Marshall's second and last ride at Canterbury today and the four-year-old mare did the right thing to win by a length and a half.
Marshall, who was famous for teaming up with such champion gallopers as Durbridge and Hareeba, is basing himself in Sydney over the coming spring, restricting himself to rides of atleast 56 kilograms.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
York Suspended - Another Rider Needed for Flying Florida
- Wednesday, 14 August 2002 00:00
York had been booked to ride the youngster after Melbourne based Patrick Payne told connections he was unable to partner Star of Florida in the Up and Coming.
Payne will stick by a prior agreement to ride the Colin Alderson trained stayer Sky Heights when that gelding resumes in Melbourne on the same day.
Star of Florida's trainer Pat Duff said today he had not decided on another replacement rider for the three-year-old son of Telesto.
York was outed by Sydney stewards today for careless riding and he indicated he would not appeal the ban, which will see him out of the saddle until August 29.
Two Month Ban for Top Canberra Hoop
- Tuesday, 13 August 2002 00:00
Stewards ruled that Scorse, who often links successfully with Barbara Joseph, did not give one of his mounts every possible chance of finishing in the best finishing place.
It was Scorse's handling of Something Hot at Canberra on August 2, that prompted stewards to conduct an inquiry, which was completed today.
The suspension was to have started immediately and was set to expire on October 12 pending the appeal which looks certain.