Give Me Space rockets into Magic Millions 3YO Guineas calculations with victory in Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm
A former Irish jumps jockey who made his way to Australia on a wing and a prayer could get his chance at a $3m payday after reeling off an incredible win in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former Irish jumps jockey who made his way to Australia on a wing and a prayer could get his chance at a $3m payday after reeling off an incredible win in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Luke Dempsey looked down and out aboard the Barry Lockwood-trained Give Me Space when he settled dead last in running – even after favourite Raikkonen bombed the start and almost dislodged jockey Chad Schofield – however the Irishman was at his vigorous best when he embarked on a barnstorming run down the middle of the track to knock off Street Chase on the line.
The remarkable win saw Give Me Space catapulted into Magic Millions 3YO Guineas calculations, with bookmakers slashing his price to $11 after as much as $41 was offered prior to Saturday’s win.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Leading Queensland jockey Jimmy Orman has been Give Me Space’s regular jockey, but he is in a race against time to be fit for the Magic Millions after a horse bit off one of his fingers at trackwork earlier in the month.
Dempsey was Johnny on the spot on Saturday and is prepared to go again in the Magic Millions Guineas should Orman not make it in time.
The former jumps jockey has tasted success at the famous Cheltenham Festival over the jumps and only made his way to Queensland after deciding Victoria and New South Wales weren’t for him.
Give Me Space gets space and FLIES home to win the Group 3 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate for trainer Barry Lockwood! pic.twitter.com/vVSwb39RJd
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024
• Talented 2YO puts a Space on his rivals
“That was some performance, nothing went right for him,” Dempsey said.
“I knew we would get back, but I didn’t plan on being that far back.
“Once we straightened up and got into clean air, he was a brilliant horse who was so tough.
“I didn’t know if we were too far off or not, it is great to ride a Group winner for Barry, they have been big supporters since I got here.”
Dempsey came to Australia on a two-month working holiday last year and never left.
• Magic Millions betting turned on its head as Nero reigns
Give Me Space is owned by larrikin Queensland bushie Rodney Hay and collected a $174,000 winners cheque on Saturday.
Hay trains horses himself in outback Queensland where the winner collects as little as $6000, but could get a huge payday in a fortnight’s time if Give Me Space can upstage his more fancied rivals from big time Sydney stables.
Dempsey and Lockwood narrowly denied comeback trainer Jim Mason a fairytale victory with Street Chase, with the pair set to again lock horns in a fortnight’s time at the Gold Coast.
Originally published as Give Me Space rockets into Magic Millions 3YO Guineas calculations with victory in Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm
$3m Sunlight barriers: Arabian Summer draws wide
Some of the leading fancies have had contrasting luck at the barrier draw for the new $3m Magic Millions Sunlight slot race at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Eagle Farm risks falling into ‘wrack and ruin’
Queensland’s racing headquarters risk falling into “wrack and ruin” within the next two years if significant upgrades aren’t undertaken, the Brisbane Racing Club’s new boss has warned.