Apprentices can expect grilling from stewards over suicidal tactics

STEWARDS have adjourned an inquiry into the suicidal tactics adopted by apprentices Bridget Grylls and Josh Oliver in the Integrapay Handicap at Doomben.

Hard Stride responds strongly under apprentice Emma Ljung to salute at Doomben. Picture: Trackside Photography

STEWARDS have adjourned an inquiry into the suicidal tactics adopted by apprentices Bridget Grylls (Ranked) and Josh Oliver (Black Jag) in the Integrapay Handicap (2200m) at Doomben.

The pair had their mounts many lengths in front of the rest of the field through the middle stages and predictably dropped out to finish in the last two placings.

“We need to determine if the rides were culpable,” acting chief steward Daniel Aurisch told the pair.

“You expect a standard from apprentices riding in the metropolitan area. It’s a punting sport and punters expect to have a chance (to win).”

Black Jag’s trainer Trevor Whittington told stewards “I don’t think it was malicious” but both needed to understand their timing better.

“The first half was ridden like a sprint. Some of these riders need to start counting. It was ridiculous. They gave neither horse a chance at all,” he said.

Both riders told stewards they didn’t realise they were that far in front.

“It was a mistake by both of us,” said Oliver, who came out in the next race and rode a faultless race to win on Ringo’s A Rockstar.

Grylls said her mount wanted to go keener when Oliver pressured her.

Earlier, Tony Sears continued his winning association with David Moodie’s Contract Racing when Hard Stride made a triumphant return.

Hard Stride had two starts for Sears at the end of a long preparation earlier in the year and showed the benefits of his break when fighting off Handyman Bob, who looked certain to win inside the 200m.

Moodie, Racing Victoria’s chairman, is one of the biggest breeders in the country and has in more recent times sent a number of horses to Sears when he believes they will be better placed out of Melbourne.

“I’m very lucky to have David and his wife (Jenny). They have been very good for our stable. With this horse, we were able to put a couple of our own clients in with them, which is great for everyone,” Sears said.

Hard Stride was attacked early but responded strongly under apprentice Emma Ljung when asked in the straight.

“They certainly worked him hard,” Sears said. “I told Emma to use the advantage of the draw and he fought on well given the way he was taken on. He’s come back well.”

THE VERDICT

Nathan Exelby

IPPY FLIPP AFTER SNUBBING FROM RQ ADVISORY GROUP

IPSWICH officials were incensed last week when Racing Queensland released details of a new Thoroughbred Advisory Group which will meet with RQ board member Mark Sowerby on a regular basis. Every major club in southeast Queensland was represented bar Ipswich. New RQ chief executive Eliot Forbes met Ipswich officials on Friday and told them they would be included in the group. Similar gripes were posted from other clubs outside the southeast corner, who also missed a seat on the initial table plan.

HARD DEFEAT: Luke Tarrant’s ride on Handyman Bob deserved a better fate. The winners haven’t exactly been flowing for the former champion apprentice since his return, but with efforts like this, you sense it won’t be long before he is back in demand. Tarrant is a genuine talent. He just needs to continue working hard and prove to owners and trainers he is serious about his future in racing.

SOAKED: There was a false start in the calling off of the Doomben races yesterday, but the initial assessment held true when stipes and jockeys assessed the track a second time. A swimming pool-sized puddle in the return-to-scale area highlighted the amount of rain that fell during the storm, which wiped out the Sky signal during the running of the Golden Rose.

NO JOY: Southern venturing Queensland trainers had little to smile about with Flemington and Rosehill flops, but Liam Birchley clearly has a horse of potential in Chamalu, who battled on strongly in the Golden Rose at just his second start.

BLEAK CITY: Sydney’s B-Team (with some help from New Zealand yesterday) continue to hold the Victorian three-year-olds at bay. It is going to be a massacre when the A-team from the Golden Rose head south. Outside the obvious Astern, there were some ripper runs at Rosehill and it would be a shock if the Caulfield Guineas winner doesn’t come from the Golden Rose.

MAGIC DEBATE: Joao Moreira has become the subject of extraordinary social media tiffs when he ventures to Australia and his beaten ride on Omei Sword in the Golden Rose in between wins on McCreery and Mackintosh kept the debate bubbling along. It is true that he had ridden just one winner (Tsaritsa at Eagle Farm) from 37 rides in Australia since Brazen Beau’s Newmarket success, but bagging a freakish talent like Moreira is only likely to end with egg on face and his presence here on big days only adds to the appeal of Australian racing on the international stage.

HOODOO TO CONTINUE?: Palentino halved his quote to $17 for the Cox Plate off the back of his Makybe Diva win, but his defeat at the hands of Tally over the MV 2040m last autumn is hardly a convincing case to say he can win the WFA Championship. Will be interesting to see if he bucks the modern trend – most Makybe/Craiglee winners don’t win another race during the spring.

UBET DOOMBEN ROUNDUP: Best backed: Ringo’s A Rockstar - $4.40-$2.20, 40 per cent of hold; Unlayable: Cramming ($3.80-$5.50); Biggest loser: Sony Legend; Earlybird special: Midnight Curfew ($5.50-$4.60, $3.10 top fluctuation).

Originally published as Apprentices can expect grilling from stewards over suicidal tactics