Jockey Alisha Donald blitzes the competition in Mackay Turf Club’s Melbourne Cup Race Day with double win

Horse trainer Mick Bannon’s dream of winning on Melbourne Cup Day is complete after ‘the perfect jockey’ rode his horse to a strong win in Mackay.

Sitting by himself in the public grandstands of Mackay Turf Club’s racetrack, trainer Mick Bannon cheered and screamed as he watched his only horse, Gamboa, take the win.

Having come from Victoria, Bannon’s dream was to race a horse at the Melbourne Cup, but winning a race in his new hometown on the biggest day in the sport runs a close second.

He said it was an honour to race on Melbourne Cup Day.

“Being a Victorian, Melbourne Cup Day is the day we always look forward to and it’s a huge day,” he said.

“I targeted the race a little bit because of the day and one of the owners comes from Mackay so they’d be there, and the little fella didn’t let us down.

“I don’t watch the races with anyone else, I hide up the back of the grandstands so I can scream, shout and cheer by myself.”

Apprentice jockey Alisha Donald rode Gamboa to the win, one of two horses she enjoyed success on.

Mick Bannon horse Gamboa winner of race one at Mackay Turf Club for Melbourne Cup Picture: Michaela Harlow

Bannon said she was a fantastic jockey and he she rode a perfect race.

“Alisha rode him really well, once he got an uncontested lead she just sat on him and let him do his thing,” he said.

“He was always tracking through the race, he was never under any pressure.”

“She was the perfect jockey for him.”

Donald also rode Periodigal to a win in the 1200m Maiden Plate.

“This is my 17th win. It’s a good boost, especially with a double (win) today. It makes it a lot better,” Donald said.

“The mare takes a little bit to wind up, but at the 600m line when no-one really took a move I started to get movement a bit earlier. So she got a bit of a run up before (the other horses).

“It was a good little race. There’s only two seniors here, it’s a tough room with most of us being apprentices, but we all get along really well and support each other.”

Racing on Melbourne Cup Day, Donald said it was every jockey’s dream to one day thunder down the track at Flemington Racecourse.

While roars exploded across the Turf Club as Verry Elleegant claimed the Cup, Periodigal’s trainer Damien Rideout was “pretty confident” the Thangool mare would claim the win.

“She ran a good run on the last start up here 10 days ago,” Rideout said.

“She was a bit unlucky at the top of the straight and couldn’t get a run and this race came up today and looked ideal for her.

“We nominated and it didn’t end up that strong of a race on paper.”

Reflecting on the young jockey, Rideout said Donald rode Periodigal “perfectly”.

“It was the perfect ride. She’s only had three rides for me, with two wins and a fourth. She’s going really well,” Rideout said.

“I’ll definitely keep putting (Donald) on.

“That was her third start for me. It didn’t take her long to win her maiden.

“She gave me the feeling that she wouldn’t take long to win a race. It makes the 5.5 hour trip home feel a bit shorter when you win a race.”