By David Gilbert
WHEN Penola-born Caitlin Jones headed to the Middle East last month, I am sure she never expected to make the impact she has already made.
The blonde-haired jockey originally went across to ride – and care for – two horses (Parsifal and He’s A Balter) for the Will Clarken stable in Dubai.
Recently Jones received a phone call from Saudi Arabia racing officials inviting her to compete in the International Jockeys Challenge at the Saudi Cup meeting at Riyadh last Friday night.
Not only did Jones compete (along with fellow Australian jockey Glen Boss and other leading world riders), she won the Challenge with a winner and a second from the four races.
Boss made a one-off return to the saddle after officially retiring last November.
“Will Clarken gave me the all clear to go and it was less than a two hour flight to get there from Dubai,” an ecstatic Jones told the media post race.
“It was a spectacular experience and definitely one of my greatest achievements as, apart from the trophy, there was a cash incentive of $30,000.
“I doubt whether I will be bringing the trophy home on the plane, as it is so big that I will have to pay for excess luggage.
“As for the $30,000, that will go towards my farm.”
Jones has never lacked confidence when interviewed and her bubbly personality made her a magnificent ambassador for Australia on the night.
MIRACLE MILE START
AUSTRALIA’S premier sprint race for harness racing, the Group 1 Miracle Mile, will be run tomorrow night at Menangle (NSW).
It is an invitation race and local owners (and breeders) Des and Heather Glynn have every right to be over the moon with their pacer Majestic Cruiser making the final field.
Majestic Cruiser competed in the Inter Dominion series late last year (finishing sixth in the final) and has had three runs this current campaign for a first-up win (at Menangle), a seventh and a last-start second.
The seven-year-old pacer is trained for the Glynns by Jason Grimson at Campbelltown (NSW) and will be driven by Newcastle claiming driver Cameron Hart.
Majestic Cruiser has drawn well in gate three for the $1 million race which will be run at 9.10pm (SA time).
At Horsham last Sunday, young local trainer Tom Rundle again had success with his newly-acquired pacer Better Steam Ahead ($1.80 fav.) in the NR 50 pace.
Better Steam Ahead gave Rundle his first winner as a trainer here at the Greenwald Paceway five days earlier and the pacers win at Horsham was a replica performance.
This time Jason Lee was in the sulky and Better Steam Ahead did as his name suggests to street his rivals in the home straight to score by 15 metres.
Local harness racing, thankfully, returns to the Friday night slot for two meetings in March, the first meeting tonight with the first of four races at 8.17pm.
NOT DESTINED FOR A CUP START
IT is beginning to look like the talented Naracoorte stayer Hasta La War is not destined to compete in a big cup race.
Potentially one of the best stayers to ever come out of the Limestone Coast, Hasta La War has again succumbed to injury in his quest to run in the Adelaide Cup on Monday week.
Two years ago, Hasta La War was on the threshold of being one of the favourites in the Adelaide Cup before injury struck.
Then, last October following thirds in the Herbert Power handicap at Caulfield and the Geelong Cup, the Sue Murphy trained performer was denied a start in the Melbourne Cup due to injury.
Last Saturday, Hasta La War was an odds-on chance for the Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville for his final run prior to the Adelaide Cup.
“Sue inspected him on Saturday morning, could see he was not right and scratched him straight away,” part owner Ron Brighton stated on Monday.
“A subsequent vet inspection has revealed he has done a tendon, not the same one as before, and it will mean another 12 months off the scene.”
Hasta La War has had only 20 starts for seven wins and six placings, and will be a seven-year-old when he returns to racing
BRILLIANT RETURN TO RACING
IF one of the aims of first year Mount Gambier Racing Club president Peter George is to get people back to the races, then last week’s meeting easily ticked that box.
A crowd of more than 500 was the best Wednesday crowd in the Limestone Coast for decades, with people from all points of the compass converging on Glenburnie.
Earlier this week, track manager David Shepherdson was still over the moon with the way the track performed and the future looks extremely positive.
Mount Gambier trainers won five of the seven races with Michael O’Leary leading the way with a double to go to the top of this season’s premiership ladder.
Black bookers from the meeting are Donation, Ranger Frank, Sebonna and Maracourt, the latter easily the run of the day after racing three wide throughout.
Local racing this weekend is at Bordertown (Sunday) with big nominations received for the seven race program.
BOOMING OUT WEST
HAS racing ever been stronger on the west coast of South Australia?
Certainly not in my time.
Port Lincoln is the hub of Eyre Peninsula racing and the only club with provincial status while the other clubs (Penong, Ceduna, Streaky Bay and Lock) have country status.
Racing is conducted in a six month period from early October until late March and this current season has been exceptional.
Earlier this century, the Port Lincoln club had plenty of financial problems and a limited number of horses in work, but there has been a dramatic turnaround in recent years.
The club has boasted almost capacity fields for its 13 meetings held so far, and have managed to attract plenty of new sponsors as well.
It has resulted in a spin-off for the non-tab clubs of Ceduna and Lock at their recent meetings with above average field sizes.
COMING UP
Tonight: Mount Gambier harness racing (all welcome; proof of two vaccinations required).
Sunday, March 6: Bordertown gallops (all welcome; proof of two vaccinations required).
Saturday, March 12: Edenhope gallops (cup meeting; all welcome, proof of two vaccinations required).
