Click goes the Shiers, boys, click-click-click
at Fannie Bay JOCKEY Paul Shiers made a sensational return to the saddle at Fannie Bay yesterday before the heavens opened and the last of the five races was abandoned.
Shiers, who has not ridden for the past three months after he was suspended for a month at the Darwin Cup Carnival in August, claimed two wins and a second from his three rides.
He won the second race on the card on top weight Yung Warrior and was beaten into second place in race two, the MIX 1049 Handicap.
But he left his best for last, showing he has not lost any of his riding skills in getting home crowd favourite Dreaming of Nepal in the feature race, the Colemans Printing BMNT 75 Handicap over 1200m.
The Gary Clarke-trained Dreaming of Nepal looked beaten at the home turn, Shiers even admitted that, but the six-year-old gelding showed amazing determination to storm home and win by a half neck.
Protesta, with apprentice Rian Mageean on board, was second and Emvoss (Richie Oakford) third. It was a stirring feature event with the slimmest of margins separating the first three.
Shiers was delighted with the horse’s performance.
‘‘ It was a terrific effort with the big weight (64kg),’’ he said. ‘‘ I was gone at the 500m. I thought I was going to run last.
‘‘He kept presenting himself when the runs opened up in the straight and he was too good. Hopefully he can come back next year and be a handy horse for the Pioneer Sprint or the Palmerson.’’
Earlier, in race two, Yung Warrior gave Shiers a winning return and his wife Leola was also delighted.
‘‘It was extra special because my wife Leola owns a share in it (Yung Warrior) with a few good mates,’’ he said. ‘‘There was quite a bit of pressure in front. I was trying to give him as easy a ride as possible.
‘‘ Then at the top of the
I was gone at the
500m. I thought I
was going to run last
straight I thought I was in a bit of trouble because he didn’t give me a kick.
‘‘But he did kick in at the 150m mark and he started to draw away again. It was a very satisfying win.’’
Leola said she and Yung Warrior’s co- owners had been waiting for a while for Yung Warrior to win but it had been well worth the wait with her husband saluting.
Yung Warrior, a four-yearold gelding, won by one and three quarters of a length from the Chris Pollardtrained Jollience who just pipped Hamish Boy, trained by Alwyn Trengrove.
Scott Hillebrand also had cause for celebration when he rode the horse he trains, Side to Side, to victory in race 3, the bet365 Handicap.
Side by Side had not won for two years but Hillebrand was at the reins as the eightyear-old gelding claimed his sixth career win yesterday. Side to Side scored by two and a quarter lengths from Battery Park, ridden by Shiers, with the disappointing Bugsy third.
Agent of Mercy, ridden by Brendon Davis, triumphed in race one with Bullock Heart second and De Souba Star finishing third.