TURF CLUB ANGER AS TRAINER CHARGED AT INNISFAIL RACE MEETING
VETERAN jockey Kerry Rockett has never quite seen a horse that can carry the big weights like Windmill Lane.
The prolific Ricky Ludwigtrained gelding was lumped with 62kg for his attempt to win back-to-back Johnstone River Handicaps on Saturday afternoon, in the sprint feature event on Innisfail Cup Day.
The seven-year-old carried the weight like it was absolutely nothing to secure the race for the second straight year.
Rockett, who rides the chestnut in work, but rarely on race day of late, picked up the engagement earlier this week and rode Windmill Lane to perfection from the inside alley. The 52-year-old shot the gelding up the inside rail of the Pease Park track to claim the $16,250 Open Handicap comfortably.
Rockett took his first ride as a hoop many a decade ago now but says the Ludwig gelding is the best he has seen at carrying big weights.
“He is a class horse,” Rockett said. “He carries weight like nothing that I have seen or ridden in a very long time.
“The 62kg is a fair bit to carry around but it was never a problem for him.”
The former Beaudesertbased Ludwig, who also owns the horse, has only been in the north for a few years but he is quickly making a name for himself as an outstanding horseman.
Saturday’s victory was win number 11 for Windmill Lane’s career, his ninth since relocating to the Far North.
A trip to the Sunshine Coast now beckons for Windmill Lane before another tilt at the Cleveland Bay in 2019, among the other northern sprint feature events come carnival time.
“He is a different class horse than the ones in this race but the weight was always going to be the problem,” Ludwig said.
“It is fantastic to win this race two years in a row.
“There is a no-metro wins race at the Sunshine Coast that we will look towards now before going out for a spell.
“We will look to the carnivals and Cleveland Bay next year.”
Rockett is confident the gelding will be able to mix it with the classy southern horses next month.
Windmill Lane scored by three-quarters of a length on the line from the Bruce Hunter-trained Bella Sash.
Cairns apprentice Amanda Thomson piloted Bella Sash after riding Windmill Lane in each of his last three starts. While she didn’t taste victory on Windmill Lane in his last three starts, she did win on the Ludwig-trained gelding on four straight occasions in 2017. Wins in North Queensland Townsville eight starts, five wins Cairns two starts win, second Oak Park one start, one win Innisfail two starts, two wins Windmill Lane won two races in country Victoria before arriving at Atherton
WE WILL LOOK TO THE CARNIVALS AND CLEVELAND BAY NEXT YEAR