Country jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes confident 600km round trip to ride Compelling Truth at Rosehill will be worthwhile
Making the long journey to Rosehill for one ride was an easy decision for country jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes.
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Country jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes has never ridden a horse like Compelling Truth so it made making the near 600km round trip to Rosehill Gardens for one ride an easy decision this Saturday.
Pracey-Holmes lives in the Central Tablelands town of Gulgong and spends most of his time riding around the state’s bush tracks.
But the 33-year-old will make the long journey into town this weekend to continue his partnership with one of the state’s most exciting country sprinters.
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The Mack Griffith-trained Compelling Truth will hunt a fifth straight win in the Jockeys Celebration Day Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).
Compelling Truth has put a space on his rivals in all four victories, saluting by margins of 5½ lengths, 5¾ lengths, seven lengths and 3¾ lengths with bold front running displays.
“I’ve probably got more confidence in him than most people,” Pracey-Holmes, who rode a career best 68 winners last season, said.
“That’s just because I don’t think I’ve ridden a horse that can sit on such a high cruising speed as he does and then kick off.
“I haven’t sat on a horse that can do that so he is a thrill for me to ride.”
Compelling Truth makes it four-in-a-row and puts his hand up for a slot in #TheKosciuszko! ($51 into $26). @tabcomau ðŸ”ï¸
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 18, 2024
Mack Griffith and Jake Pracey-Holmes combine to take the Kirby @clarenceriverjc ðŸ‡ðŸ’¨ pic.twitter.com/ueZckO8jfF
Compelling Truth races in the renowned red and black silks of Gooree Stud and was bred to be a star as a gelding of I Am Invincible out of Speak Fondly.
Speak Fondly was a winner of the 2015 Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Compelling Truth had started his career with Annabel Neasham, having two starts for the Sydney trainer before moving to Griffith.
The gelding had to spend more than a year on the sidelines before returning this year and has been quick to make up for lost time.
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He has never lost with Pracey-Holmes aboard with five victories from five starts together.
Last start he produced one of his most brilliant performances to date with a thrilling all the way the effort to salute in the Sir James Kirby Quality (1000m) at Grafton.
It was a testament to just how far he’s come in a short amount of time for Pracey-Holmes.
“He was a little bit of a handful early and could pull a bit, and get a bit agitated,” he said.
“I was actually a bit worried at Grafton because he was that quiet and I thought ‘don’t tell me the trip has flattened him’.
“It obviously didn’t so he might just be maturing.
“It was toughest race to date and he definitely stamped his mark.”
Like most country sprinters in top form at this time of year, Compelling Truth has thrust himself into conversations for the $2 million The Kosciuszko in recent weeks.
Pracey-Holmes is confident he wouldn’t look out of place in the coveted country sprint.
“I am not the trainer and just ride the horse but I would be looking at the Kosciuszko,” he said.
“It’s still 2½ months away so I will leave that to Mack.
“If he was to come out and win impressively and runs another slick time, which I think he might, I think it will be in the back of everyone’s minds.”
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Compelling Truth ($3.90) faces by far his toughest assignment this weekend when he takes on a field that includes last start Denise’s Joy Stakes runner-up Spring Lee ($3.10 fav).
The leading pair in betting will jump in neighbouring gates.
“We have drawn barrier four, which I am happy enough with,” Pracey-Holmes said.
“I did think to myself, I don’t care where he draws because he just have that natural speed out of the barriers.
“I don’t think it would matter if he drew 12 of 12, he is that quick in the first 150m.
“I know he is up in class and up against different horses but the Kirby is a quick race at Grafton and he still jumped and led them.”
Originally published as Country jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes confident 600km round trip to ride Compelling Truth at Rosehill will be worthwhile
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