21/12/2001 edition

Auckland Cup Trial
Horror Ride

Apprentice jockeys

Last Saturday at Flemington, five year old gelding Maguire was meant to be just having a good workout over 2563 metres in preparation for a trip to New Zealand and contesting the Group 1 Auckland Cup over 3200 metres on New Year's Day.

At Flemington Maguire "came in well at the weights" with the three kilos claim from apprentice Adrian Patterson. So Maguire was well supported at $3.50 in the nine horse field.

Unheralded five year old mare, Tiffany's Best, ridden by Lincoln Coffey, opened up a 20 lengths lead at the 1000 metres mark - and held on to win! She paid up to $61.50 on the New South Wales tote.

Did Maguire, with the benefit of that three kilos claim, run home well for a solid Auckland Cup trial? Was Maguire's Cranbourne based trainer, John Collins, pleased with the run?

An emphatic "No" to both. The trainer's instructions had not been followed. The trainer was horrified. You see, from barrier two, Adrian Patterson instead of sitting quietly on the gelding, had Maguire running three wide throughout the race. That is pretty hard to do - three wide throughout from barrier two!! Maguire was the first horse beaten, and finished eighth, 22 lengths from the winner.

Get any competent senior rider on Maguire, and while the gelding may not have won the race with 60 kilos, it is a fair bet that he would have finished many lengths closer than 22 lengths from the winner. So much for the claim.

Many apprentices often disadvantage a horse. They are a bigger handicap in kilos than the kilos they can claim.

Next pages
Senior jockeys
Flemington racetrack
Strike rate - put the odds in your favour
Future winners at big odds
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