Kiwi jockey considers a 2nd stint in Toowoomba
Currie closes in on century
NEW Zealand apprentice Rebecca Goldsbury helped edge trainer Ben Currie nearer to a century of season wins when she chipped in with her second Australian victory at Clifford Park on Saturday night.
Currie moved to 98 1⁄2 wins for the racing year when former north Queensland filly Mishani Shiraz skipped to a comfortable victory for Goldsbury in the Paint N Colour Class 3 Plate (1110m).
The Currie stable was also successful earlier in the day with Ilovevegas ($8) in the Two-Year-Old Plate at Doomben.
Mishani Shiraz had 1 3⁄4 lengths to spare on the line from Well Sighted ($4.40) with $2.05 favourite Burning Mountain another 1 1⁄2 lengths back third.
The victory was the 57th career win for Goldsbury and her second since arriving in Toowoomba last month from Palmerston North to link with Currie for a brief stay.
She’ll now consider extending her time at Clifford Park during a return trip home later this month.
“I came over to try and gain some more experience,” Goldsbury said.
“It’s worked out good and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
“I’ve been very lucky to be on loan to the Ben Currie stable.
“I return home on the 17th of this month and I will just see from there whether I return to Toowoomba and extend my stay here.”
Goldsbury said Mishani Shiraz was her second win here after Choix De Roses two weeks ago.
“The inside barrier was a big help to her tonight,” she said.
“She can be a bit slow away but she found the fence and kicked up nicely and she was always going to be hard to run down from there.”
Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp made it three Clifford Park wins for the week when Marksfield ($2.30) got punters off to a flying meeting start with an all-the-way win in the Metroll Toowoomba Benchmark 75 Handicap (1310m) for 3kg claimer Nick Keal.
The victory was the seventh at Clifford Park for the six-year-old from 19 starts and followed the wins of stablemates Delaney’s Desire and Newcastle Dancer last Sunday.