Scarred hoop gives Cairns another shot

VICTORIAN jockey Mark Pegus is hoping for better luck than his “disaster” of a trip to Cairns three years ago.

The Group 1-winning hoop will be back in the Far North next week for riding engagements on the Friday of the Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival.

The last time the 39-yearold ventured to Cannon Park, on the advice of Townsville trainer Terry Butts, he ended up in a hospital bed instead of flashing past the winning post.

“It was a disaster when I was last in Cairns in 2014,” Pegus said with a smile this week.

“I shattered my forearm and needed a plate and nine screws in it to fix it.

“Hopefully I can come back on better terms.

“I came up to ride a horse for Terry but I never got the chance as I fell off this one earlier and ended up in hospital.

“The horse ended up winning.”

The 51kg rider is on the lookout for more rides during his time in the Far North and could extend his stay to the second day of the carnival on Saturday.

Pegus, who has ridden all around Australia in his almost 20 years in the saddle, is flirting with a permanent move to Queensland to the strong Toowoomba stable of Ben Currie.

“There is the possibility that I will move up full-time and work mainly for him,” he said.

“Ben has 60-80 horses in work and is probably the next big thing in terms of training in the area.

“The lifestyle in Queensland might suit me.”

Meanwhile, in a rare occurrence for racing in the Far North, five races will be con- tested at Atherton Turf Club this Sunday instead of the usual Saturday races.

The club will use the day for its Carinya Charity Races at Morrow Park.

“It is all about having a bit of fun as we have our hobby horse race,” ATC promotions manager Terry Ayliffe said. “We have just had a number of upgrades from the local council – a new toilet block, new roofing, new aircon and spent over $40,000 in landscaping. “The course looks great.” The first of five races jumps from Atherton at 1.10pm today.

I CAME UP TO RIDE A HORSE FOR TERRY BUT I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE AS I FELL OFF THIS ONE EARLIER AND ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL VICTORIAN JOCKEY MARK PEGUS