Victorian hoop has top rides

RACING: Victorian jockey Mark Pegus has landed several prominent early rides for his Toowoomba riding debut at Clifford Park tomorrow.

Pegus has relocated to Queensland where he’ll link with the stable of premier Clifford Park trainer Ben Currie.

He has ridden almost 1000 career winners with a highlight victory coming in the 2008 Group One Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide.

Pegus has three rides for Currie on tomorrow night’s seven-race and has also been booked to partner dual acceptor, Girl In A Million, for the stable at the Gold Coast tomorrow.

At Clifford Park Pegus and Currie team with last-start winner Kuttamurra Al, Mustarrid and Fake News.

Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch has also snapped up the services of Pegus for Magic By Design in the Wilsonton Meats Maiden Handicap (1050m).

Meanwhile apprentice Emma Ljung continues her latest comeback to riding from injury with three early rides on the card including Taliqua for Hatch in the Toowoomba Hospice Assoc Inc. QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1100m).

Ljung made her race riding return with one ride on last Saturday’s Clifford Park card and along with fellow Downs apprentice Hannah English will line up in today’s female rider’s race in Cairns.

Ljung spent more than five months on the sidelines following a Gatton race fall in March.

TOOWOOMBA Turf Club yesterday confirmed former champion Melbourne jockey Darren Gauci will feature as guest speaker at its 2016-17 Ladbrokes Racing Awards.

This year’s awards night will be held at the Cathedral Centre in Neil St on Saturday, September 16.