Maloney sweats on test result of fellow rider
JOCKEY Ryan Maloney was last night nervously awaiting the test results of Victorian hoop Mark Zahra to discover if he could take part in the Beaudesert meeting today.
Maloney revealed he had kept his distance from his family after being informed Zahra had been tested for COVID-19.
The test came after Zahra was told he had been on the same flight as someone with the virus on March 12.
Like Zahra, the Gold Coastbased Maloney rode in the AllStar Mile at Caulfield on March 14.
A positive test for Zahra would mean Maloney himself would have to be tested.
“It’s been different, that is for sure,” Maloney said.
“My family have to be pretty careful as well. I’m basically keeping my distance.
I didn’t even see Mark on the day, although I was in the same race.”
Zahra flew to Sydney last Saturday for the Golden Slipper meeting on a charter flight that included fellow riders Hugh Bowman and Tommy Berry
“I wouldn’t be as at risk as others like Hugh Bowman and that who were on the same plane with him and tested negative,” Maloney said.
Maloney is due to ride Wave Maker and Beatsme for the Edmonds Racing stable at the Beaudesert meeting today.
Training partners Toby and Trent Edmonds believe Wave Maker has ability but the horse, who finished third and first in two trials, may have to wait a bit longer to make his debut after drawing wide at 12.
Trent Edmonds said Beatsme is on the improve and ready to race after finishing eighth, fifth and third in three trials since early February.
Edmonds said the Gold Coast racing operation had introduced protocols to help minimise their risk of contracting COVID-19.
“We are just business as usual until such time happens we have to stop,” he said.
“We are putting protocols in place at work, washing hands, we take the temperature of all the staff when they arrive each day, all that kind of stuff. We are just doing our best.”