Annuals bring joy for returning hoop
JORDAN GERRANS AFTER almost an entire year away from riding through injury, Cairns jockey Sonja Wiseman could not get a “hell yeah” out quick enough after being asked if she was excited to be back racing.
The 25-year-old has not had a ride in a race since way back on November 12 last year after having her troublesome shoulder operated on.
The Cairns-based hoop has been back riding track work for around five weeks and makes her long-awaited comeback this afternoon at the Atherton Turf Club on Atherton Annuals day.
One of the leading hoops in the Far North, Wiseman conceded it was difficult to be watching for so long without riding but is excited to take three rides today.
“It has been really hard being on the sidelines,” Wiseman said.
“I have missed the Cairns Cup and the Cairns Amateurs, all the big races, but at least I will be back this weekend and then for the Innisfail Cup and a few other races. Hell yeah I am excited to be back.”
Wiseman, the 2016 Cairns Cup winner, takes two rides today for Cannon Park-trainer Trevor Rowe and one for Danielle Massingham.
“I am pretty hopeful but I will take the three rides if I can get them,” Wiseman said.
“Cleveland Dream in the Maiden race is a lovely little filly, I have been riding her work and she has been going good.
“It will be about if she is fit enough first-up, she had a de- cent spell prior to it so it will really depend on that.
“The races are not that strong throughout the day.”
The feature race of today’s five-race card is the $15,000 Atherton Cup Open Handicap over 1800m with Wiseman riding top-weight Mukaddamah Son.
“He is a real stayer,” Wiseman said.
“Stable Surprize might be a little bit better but I have won on a number of long shots before.”
Atherton Turf Club marketing and media manager Terry Ayliffe said it was set to be an action-packed day both on and off the track.
“The annuals are one of the biggest social events of the year on the Tablelands,” he said.
“We’re expecting between 1400 and 1600 people.”
Ayliffe said the annuals was an event Tablelanders did not want to miss.