Van Der Hoven keen to parlay Queensland win into more success at Goulburn

Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven returns to NSW racing this week having made a successful raid on the Sunshine Coast at the weekend.

Van Der Hoven tasted success on the Ciaron Maher-trained Atomic Clock on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast, and he follows a ride at Warwick Farm on Monday with a solid book of four mounts at Goulburn on Tuesday.

The WA TAB can’t find a bookmaker to take over its operations.Credit: Jenny Evans

Van Der Hoven kicks off his day at Goulburn when he partners the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald prepared Atelier in the Southern Highlands Foods Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).

A three-year-old filly by So You Think, Atelier has only faced the starter once, and that resulted in a knockout win at Orange.

“I rode her in the race at Orange, and it was a good, strong win,” said Van Der Hoven. “She hit the line well over 1400m so the extra 200m at Goulburn looks like it will suit her, and she can win again.”

The Richard Litt-trained Safrano is Van Der Hoven’s mount in the Country Championships @ Goulburn 23/03 Maiden Plate (1200m).

“Safrano has only had three starts, and she ran pretty well at Kembla Grange at her second start,” Van Der Hoven said.

“It’s my first time on her in a race or trial, but she’s in a good stable, and she can run well without surprising.”

Van Der Hoven rounds out the day when combining with the Jason Coyle pair of Nambi Ghima in the Goulburn Mazda & Isuzu Ute Maiden Plate (1500m) and Bode Akuna in the ICU Security Cameras Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m).

“I’ve ridden Nambi Ghima in two of her races and she ran well at Nowra the other day when she finished fourth,” said Van Der Hoven.

“If she can up to that then there’s no reason she can’t figure in the finish.”

Bode Akuna was a maiden winner at Goulburn at big odds when resuming, and Van Der Hoven was aboard the gelding when it ran at Nowra at its latest start.

“He ran well too when finishing second at Nowra and he should well again,” Van Der Hoven said.

Tajanis an apt winner of Australia Day Cup

The Chris Waller-trained Tajanis backed up his upset win over Gilded Water with his biggest victory, and a fitting one, in the listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on Monday. The five-year-old gelding, a son of UK sire Australia with Zac Lloyd aboard, finished over the top of the Phillip Stokes-prepared Taramansour by two-thirds of a length in the $200,000 staying affair. Another Waller runner, Saltcoats, was almost three lengths further back in third. It was a fourth win in 16 starts for Tajanis, which finished the winning run of Gilded Water in Australia at Rosehill nine days earlier. Earlier, $2.5 million yearling buy Railway Man broke through at his sixth start for trainer Ciaron Maher and Coolmore. The three-year-old I Am Invincible-Booker colt finished over the top of favourite Automne Tree in the $100,000 maiden.
Craig Kerry

Sydney Bowler to have first trial after horror outing

Unbeaten four-year-old Sydney Bowler will be one to watch at Randwick trials on Tuesday. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding has not raced since making it three wins from three career starts 13 months ago at Randwick. He was the Magic Millions Guineas favourite at the Gold Coast two weeks later but became stuck under the barriers in distressing scenes. The barrier had to be dismantled to free the horse. The race was delayed and Sydney Bowler, which had to be sedated, was scratched. He sustained lacerations on his off-foreleg in the incident but recovered, only for further setbacks forcing winter and spring campaigns to be abandoned. The $300,000 son of Deep Field is set to trial over 740m in the 12th on the program, which also features two group-level heats.
Craig Kerry

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