Elliott over moon with winning comeback
THEY say absence truly does make the heart grow fonder and for comeback jockey Mark Elliott a break from race riding has brought him back hungrier than ever for success.
The Innisfail-based hoop is one of the most in-form riders in north Queensland at the minute, picking up four winners across his last eight rides, following the first at Atherton yesterday afternoon.
The 44-year-old has made a comeback in the middle stages of 2019 after five years away from race riding.
He picked up a winner on Townsville Amateurs Cup Day, with Hot Shot Harry for Cairns trainer Scott Cooper, as well as a double at Innisfail just over a week ago.
Back at Morrow Park for the first time in six years, the experienced jockey lifted the locally trained Kalelarga to the mare’s first victory in 18 career starts.
Tablelands trainer Sharlee D’Avila booked Elliott for the ride weeks ago and he did not let her down, scoring from Cortesta and Wee Willie Mac in the $7450 Maiden Plate (1000m).
“I was a bit unlucky on a couple of others at Townsville on Saturday but I feel like I am riding well,” Elliott said.
“It is great to come back with a win here at Atherton – this is my first time back at the track in six years.”
The victory for Elliott was the start of a race-to-race double to open the program for Sharlee as Power Of Divas found a suitable race after showing promising form across the Cairns carnival.
“Mark has been riding well and I will look to give him a ride here and there when I can,” Sharlee said. “He is pretty good and I like to keep my rides to certain jockeys.”
After Elliott piloted the first for Sharlee, it was husband and leading hoop Wanderson who was aboard Power Of Divas.
Wanderson went from one end of the racing spectrum to the other inside the first two races on his home track yesterday. He was aboard first-starter Fyniant, trained by Sharlee, in the first race, who put on a bucking show and the Brazilian jockey was forced to dislodge just after the start.
Power Of Divas won from the fellow locally trained mount Yalanji.