ACE HOOP RETURNS TO TASSIE
SOUTH Australian apprentice Lizzie Annells ended up in hospital the first time she rode in Tasmania when a Sarah Cotton-trained gelding dumped her at the barriers and proceeded to roll on top of her.
But she escaped unscathed and since has a perfect strike rate for Cotton with three wins from as many starts.
Annells scored two wins aboard Cotton’s highly promising threeyear-old filly Fairy Magic and last Sunday at Elwick she teamed up with Ransom Trust to score an all-the-way win in a class one handicap over 1600m.
It was a clever frontrunning ride because she managed to get away with a couple of cheap sectionals and
she called on the filly to extend, she caught the other riders napping and Ransom Trust went on to win by over four lengths.
“Im grateful to Sarah (Cotton) for giving me the opportunity to ride a couple of her team and I am really impressed with Fairy Magic and Ransom Trust did a fantastic job to win like she did,” Annells said. “I like Tassie racing, and I would like to keep coming on a regular basis.”
Annells has been lured to the state owing to a dire jockey shortage due to injuries, suspensions and some taking well-earned holidays.
Brendon McCoull is out of action recovering from knee surgery and he is unlikely to return until at best midAugust and Georgie Catania is convalescing after a fall in Devonport two months ago.
Turkish riders Bulent Muhcu, Mehmet Ulucinar and Ismail Toker are holidaying in Turkey and star apprentice Erica Byrne Burke has taken time off to return to Ireland to visit family and friends.
Apprentice Chloe Wells has been off the scene for a year recovering from a badly broken leg, but she could soon be back in the saddle and making her way back to race riding.
The good news is there are some talented young riders waiting in the wings to secure their licenses to ride in races. Brooke Hanham and Lauryn Bingley have been riding regularly in trials and might not be far off joining the apprentice riding ranks and Cathwhen erine Van Munster is waiting on her apprenticeship to Brighton trainer John Luttrell to be endorsed.
Laura White is another who shows talent and 16-year-old junior equestrian star Jackson Radley, who is aligned to the David Keating stable, has shown up in jump outs and many are eagerly awaiting to see what he can do once he finally becomes a part of the system.
But as it stands Sunday’s meeting in Devonport will most likely produce late scratchings in some races owing to there being insufficient riders, despite an influx of imports.