Double just eludes rider

LEADING Tablelands hoop Wanderson D’Avila came within a whisker of claiming the Townsville and Cairns jockeys premiership across the 2017-18 racing season.

The 42-year-old had long sewn up the Cairns Jockey Club’s prize for leading rider and topped the Cluden Park leaderboard for much of the 12 months.

The Brazilian took 13 rides across the three feature days of the Townsville carnival without claiming a winner, to give the in-form Justin Stanley a chance to run him down.

In that same space of time, Stanley booted home three winners, including two on Townsville Cup Day to secure the jockeys premiership for the 2017-18 season.

“I was leading all year but unfortunately last week Justin took over and got in front of me,” D’Avila said at Cluden Park on Saturday afternoon.

Stanley finished three winners clear of D’Avila on 26 for the season while Townsville hoop Bonnie Thomson also made a late dash to finish second on 24.

Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi snapped up the Townsville trainers premiership, as he has done on numerous times throughout his career, with 21 winners, six ahead of the second-placed Alby Molino.

In the Far North, Chillemi drew level with Cannon Park trainer Stephen Massingham on 13 victories to share the Cairns trainers premiership.

D’Avila won the Cairns title with eight more wins than Sonja Wiseman while Snowy Moet, trained by Massingham won horse of the year.