Gillies and Thomas join forces
Cambridge horseman Graham Thomas will shortly be joined in a training partnership by the former champion jumps jockey Mathew Gillies.
‘‘The application was posted on Monday so we’re really looking forward to it,’’ Thomas said.
‘‘He’s a very knowledgeable guy and he’s going to help us a lot. I think we’re in for a good season, we’ve got some nice young horses coming through.’’
Gillies, 31, won the jumps jockeys’ premiership in 2013-14 and rode 85 winners during a career that featured a successful association with the powerful Kevin Myers stable.
Meanwhile, Thomas’ Group III winner Mangaroa Flo Jo will resume in the ITM Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Third in the event behind Pacorus 12 months ago, the High Chaparral mare is a three-time winner on the Taranaki course.
‘‘She’ll probably need a fresh-up run and next time she can step up to 2000m,’’ Thomas said.
Meeska Mooska is also back in work for the stable and he too will brought along with premier staying targets in mind.
‘‘He’s had a good, long break. After he won at Hawke’s Bay carnival last year he got a terrible eye infection and he nearly lost the eye,’’ Thomas said.
‘‘He came back and was only average so he went out again.’’
Meanwhile, the stable is keen on the chances of the promising Century Miss breaking through in Wednesday’s Mills Reef 2160m at Tauranga.