Jockey Jay Ford is on verge of a century of winners for trainer Joe Pride after a double on Anagain and In Flight at Rosehill
A race-to-race double at Rosehill Gardens has jockey Jay Ford and trainer Joe Pride poised to reach a special milestone.
Jay Ford is closing in on a century of winners for the Joe Pride stable after winning successive races for the trainer on Anagain and In Flight Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Just 35 minutes after Ford won on Anagain, he was back in the winners’ circle on the promising In Flight, an impressive winner of the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).
In Flight gave Ford his 96th career winner for the Pride stable. The only jockey to ride more winners for the trainer is retired champion jockey Corey Brown with 115 wins.
“I’ve ridden for Joe for a long time,” Ford said.
“We have had good runs and bad runs but he always has a ride for me. I do a lot of barrier trials for him so I play a small part in his team.
“I get to ride a few here and there for Joe, we are getting a few winners together at the moment – I love riding for him.”
In Flight continues her good run of form and gives @PrideRacing and Jay Ford a race-to-race double!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024
Our man @BradJGray goes 2/2 with his Best Bets at Rosehill 💥 pic.twitter.com/Ri52aHz43S
Pride is aware that Ford is closing in on Brown’s stable riding record.
“Corey won 115 races for us so Jay will catch him eventually,” Pride said.
“If you look at the strike-rates, they’re a little bit different though, but I didn’t ask Corey to ride the horses I get Jay to ride and Jay never complains.”
Ford was at his best on In Flight ($3.40 favourite) as she held off Disneck ($11) to win by three-quarters of a length with Eye Of The Fire ($5) close up in third place.
“It worked out a treat,” Ford said. “We drew the right gate to allow us to ride her as the race unfolded.
“We were able to position her to be stalking the speed without using any petrol then it was a matter of letting her balance up so she could finish off her race.
“What I liked was when she was challenged by the second horse she showed tenacity and wanted to win.
“She has had a great preparation but will be better again in another season as she still has some furnishing to do.
“But this mare already has a fantastic record. She goes to the races, is so willing and gives you 110 per cent every time.”
In Flight, raced by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds of Think About It and Private Eye fame, improved her record to four wins from just eight starts with her game Rosehill effort.
Pride noticed that again the strongest part of In Flight’s race was when she was under pressure near the finish.
“That’s always a sign that a horse can, one probably get a bit further, but is well above their opposition,” Pride said.
“She is doing everything she needs to do to progress and in time, based on her last couple of wins, she may well make a stakes horse.”
Originally published as Jockey Jay Ford is on verge of a century of winners for trainer Joe Pride after a double on Anagain and In Flight at Rosehill
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