Webb and Gatt Join Forces in Adelaide
- Friday, 04 October 2002 00:00
Gatt has won a number of Group races in South Australia including his first – and only – Group 1 success aboard Blue Murder in the 2000 SA Derby for Cliff Brown.
Gatt moved to Brisbane earlier this year and continued on after their winter carnival but he recently returned to his old stamping ground at Cranbourne and linked up with Webb.
"I did my apprenticeship at Cranbourne with Colin Alderson and based myself there as a senior but moved to Brisbane for the carnival this year," Gatt said. "I ended up staying a lot longer than expected but recently decided to re-establish myself in Victoria again. I ride a lot of work for Stuart and he offered me a number of rides in Adelaide. I have fond memories there and hope I can continue on the success."
Webb has runners in six of the seven flat races and gives chances to them all. Lochi, in the Terrific @ Manner Lodge Handicap, has been stabled in Adelaide with David Jolly for the last month but the other five arrived early Friday morning. Webb has been a regular visitor to Adelaide and won the Group 3 Carlton Draught Stakes with Firetaine during the Adelaide Cup carnival.
"It’s just so tough in Victoria at the moment and you are flat out getting a run in many cases," Webb said. "A lot of these horses were entered for events over the next week but there seemed to be a number of suitable races in Adelaide so I loaded up the track and brought Matt with me."
Webb rates his best chances as Kosta’s Delight, Lochi and Bagatrix. He also has Wisttrakowe in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1822m) but concedes it will be a tough race.
"Kosta’s Delight just bowls along and, if there’s no speed in the race, he’ll take running down," Webb said. "Lochi has been there for a while now and has been given an easy time on the track since finishing third behind the dead-heaters Clarendon’s Curse and Jasper Ruler at Victoria Park. My only concern with him is coming back to 2000m."
Webb said his best chance of the day was in the last – Bagatrix – but, as the name suggests, he must be taken on trust.
"He is a real rogue and was named because of it," Webb said. "He’s a very talented horse but does everything wrong. At his best he’d just about win but he always finds trouble."
Web said he would leave a few of his team with David Jolly, who has stables at Morphettville, for the next few weeks and look for more suitable local races.
Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)