Mitchell magic gives him jump
MICHAEL Mitchell was the wizard among New Zealand’s jumps jockeys last winter.
He has been struggling a little this winter but he caste his spell in the Awapuni Hurdles yesterday.
Riding the locally-trained My Magician for Gary Vile, Mitchell did everything asked of him to get his mount home first in the $50,000 prestige jumping race.
‘‘He rode him exactly as instructed,’’ Vile said. ‘‘It was the perfect ride.’’ In the keenly contested 2900m feature, Mitchell made a bold mid-race move to take on early pacemakers D’Llaro and Thatz David.
The speed increased noticeably with the tactical move and, sensing danger, Mathew Gillies followed Mitchell’s lead and sent Ngario in pursuit.
It was all on for young and old from that point on, but with Mitchell throwing everything at his mount, the Remind 6-year-old geldingheld off Ngario by threequarters of a length.
Thatz David, remarkably having his fifth start in the Awapuni Hurdles, rallied gallantly to finish one and a-quarter lengths further back in third with a big margin to fourth placed Boy.
Mitchell, last season’s champion jumps jockey in New Zealand, is ‘‘struggling to break even’’ this season.
The winners have been hard to come by. He dominated the headlines last winter when he rode the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained High Forty to five wins, including the Koral and Grand National Steeplechases at Riccarton.
My Magician’s win was a welcome change of luck during a busy week riding at Whanganui, Timaru and Awapuni on consecutive days with a long drive to Te Aroha in prospect for racing today.
My Magician looked a standout in the birdcage pre-race, and performed right up to his good looks. ‘‘He loves the winter,’’ Vile said. ‘‘It was a good tough win and maybe we will go on to the Wellington Hurdles next.’’