Scone previews: Group 1 winning rider Donovan

South African jockey Donovan Dillon is ready to build momentum with a healthy book of six rides at Scone on Thursday.

Donovan Dillon has a healthy book of rides at Scone on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

South African-born jockey Donovan Dillon’s career altering Australian move two-and-a-half years ago came within an important motive.

“I wanted to give my son (Bryce) a better opportunity for a future,” Dillon, who moved to Australia with wife Tayla, said.

“There is no future for him in South Africa so that was the main reason I took the two-and-a-half year sacrifice of the VISA.”

Two-and-a-half years on and Dillon’s sacrifice is starting to pay off.

Dillon, a Group 1 winning rider in his homeland, was forced to survive off limited opportunities with VISA restrictions forcing him to only ride for Paul Messara until he received permanent residency.

But that changed at the end of November last year and opened the door for him to ride freelance.

Since the New Year he has piloted three winners for three different trainers and Dillon is eager to build on that momentum.

“We had the first rides there for a few other trainers on Boxing Day and have been picking up slowly from there but it has come quicker than we anticipated,” Dillon said.

“We have had the three winners since and I’ve been lucky to get some support off not only some big trainers but smaller ones too.

“It’s obviously not easy to put on a new face but they’ve been really good about it.”

Dillon heads to Scone on Thursday with six rides for four different stables with Cameron Crockett providing the bulk of the support with three chances.

Among them is Taipan Legend ($3.30 favourite), which Dillon piloted to a last start success at Dubbo and will chase consecutive wins in the Emirates Park Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).

“Taipan Legend ended up winning a good race at his last start in that Class 1 Maiden mile and I thought he has to be in with another chance because he won with a bit in hand,” Dillon said.

“I think he will run a race on Thursday.”

*Trial win primes Mr Brightside for Orr Stakes return

Taipan Legend had been knocking on the door and today was his day at Dubbo! @camcrockettracepic.twitter.com/fJtgBAAKKg

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 14, 2025

Crockett’s Rock ‘N’ Reign ($11) failed to beat a runner home last start but Dillon believes he’s more than capable of bouncing back in the Lion Benchmark 58 Handicap (900m) with some gear changes.

“I think it might be the form turn around for him,” Dillon said.

“To me in the race it looked like the noseband restricted him a little bit and killed his momentum early on but he is a difficult animal and is strong as all hell.

“If he can get a smooth run from barrier three, he should end up in the first four.”

Invader’s Girl ($23) is the last of the Crockett trio.

The four-year-old has missed the placings at her past two and gets the chance to put her best foot forward in the TAB Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).

“Invader’s Girl is better than her form suggests,” Dillon said.

“She had a quiet run her first run this prep and needed it quite badly, having a good blow.

“She found traffic quite badly every time she got going.”

While Curcuma ($51) and Nothin’ Seemstofit ($26) are both outsiders in their respective assignments, the Allan Boyle-trained Mellencamp ($3.40 favourite) is the horse to beat in the Coolmore Benchmark 66 (2200m).

Dillon scored on the son of Impending three starts ago over 1500m at Muswellbrook with Mellencamp finishing third and fourth at his next two runs.

“Mellencamp is a great chance from barrier two,” Dillon said.

“I thought a mile was his game but when he ran the other day over 1900m, he looked like he handled it well.

“The main aim will be to switch him off early.”

BLINKERS KEY TO LEGEND’S CAUSE

Trainer Mack Griffith will reach back into the gear bag in a bid to help new addition Crown Legend go one better in Thursday’s Arrowfield Maiden Plate (1100m) at Scone.

Crown Legend is in his first preparation under Griffith’s care and nearly broke through at his first time of asking when finishing a close second over 1000m at Orange earlier this month.

Griffith gave the run a ‘pass mark’ but expects Crown Legend can improve on the showing with the addition of blinkers second-up.

“He got a little bit tired and got to the front and waited a touch I thought, just getting there and floating,” Griffith said.

“We will reapply the blinkers that will get him a little more focused at the business end.

“He had blinkers on before and we took them off because we like to start a fresh with the new horses but we’ve reverted back to what he was used to before.”

Crown Legend was purchased off Inglis Digital in October for $22,500 after the son of Deep Field had three starts for Nick Ryan in Victoria.

*Dwyer declares Adelaide the goal for globetrotting Asfoora

Compelling Truth will also head to Scone. Picture: Bradley Photos

The three-year-old looks to be a astute buy and has settled in nicely to his new home at Mudgee.

“We were just trying to get a feel of him in his trial for us and now that he has had a run, we pretty much feel like we’ve worked him out,” Griffith said.

“He is a pretty laid-back sort of customer.

“He just needs to get a bit more focused and I think he will get a bit more ground some the track as well.”

Crown Legend is a $1.95 favourite to score with star jockey Aaron Bullock aboard.

Crown Legend won’t be alone on the float with Griffith set to take three horses to trial after the last.

Among them is one-time Kosciuszko contender Compelling Truth, which will trial in a 900m heat that includes stablemate Wolf Club.

Compelling Truth, a sensational winner of nine of his 18 starts, last appeared when running 12th in The Kosciuszko in October.

“It will be a nice easy trial for Compelling Truth and he will have another one before he goes to Brisbane in three or four weeks,”

“He would be no hope in Sydney at this time of year and they are always better treated in Queensland with the rating system.”

Originally published as Scone previews: Group 1 winning rider Donovan