New Rowe recruit eyes Surprize win
RIDING with career-best confidence, jockey John Lambie is ready for a breakthrough victory in today’s $30,000 Cairns Newmarket.
After bouncing around from Victoria to Tasmania and up to the Atherton Tablelands, the 25-year-old looks to have found a home with the Cairnsbased Trevor Rowe stable.
Rowe is a big believer in having a constant stable jockey for his strong team and following star apprentice Emily Cass’s departure, he was quick to inject Lambie into the role.
“This is the first time in my short career as a jockey that I have got a real good go at it,” Lambie said.
“Everyone up here in the Far North has been really good to me.
“I am really enjoying working with Trevor and his family.”
The lightweight hoop has been the Rowe stable’s No.1 man for the last few months and will leg up their hope in today’s feature event, Stable Surprize.
“John is an up-and-coming rider, he is working hard,” Rowe said.
“He has got a good opportunity to go on further in the stable. He has been riding the horses well.
“He is keen, which is what I like about him.
“But, in saying that, a jockey is only as good as the horse he is on.”
The jockey and trainer duo both grumbled at the wide barrier draw for Stable Surprize but Lambie believes the sevenyear-old is ready to win.
“He is starting to work everything out now, coming into more distance,” Lambie said.
“He will start getting into the mile or a little bit further.
“He is nice and fit and is looking a treat. I think he will go well.”
Lambie was apprenticed to Grant Dalziel for the first year of his apprenticeship before transferring to Mick Kent’s stable at Cranbourne, where he rode for a year and has also spent time in Tasmania.
Loceano, also from the Rowe stable, claimed the then $20,000 Babinda Electrics Cairns Newmarket last year.
The Rowe team face a tough ask to make it two on the bounce with Krystle Johnston’s Craiglea Deken and Craiglea Wandoo, as well as Element of Chance, trained on course by Fred Wieland, having strong claims.
The first of seven from Cannon Park jumps from 1.08pm today.