Houston seeks Lucky break
Cambridge trainer Shelley Houston recently renewed her jumps jockey licence.
She made the move as insurance against any problems finding riders for her jumps team.
She hasn’t put her licence to use but she might have had second thoughts after Lucky Tonight made his Australian debut last week.
He had to school to gain his Australian jumps ticket but severely set his campaign aback with a fall at the second fence.
He made a mistake for Victorian-based rider Richard Cully pinch-hitting for regular New Zealand jockey Michael Mitchell.
The setback wasn’t the start Houston was wanting in her first venture to Australia in a training capacity.
‘‘That’s the way it goes,’’ she said.
‘‘We will have another go at Warrnambool this Tuesday with Richard Eynon on board and hope for better luck.
‘‘The horse is thriving and safely through Wednesday we will look at getting him into a race on Sunday.
‘‘The biggest thing with jumpers is their confidence and he seems fine. He’s schooled really well since his mishap.
‘‘He’s a maiden steeplechaser but he has to go in a $50,000 open steeplechase this Sunday then we’ll aim towards the Crisp and Grand National at the end of August. He’s generally a brilliant jumper.’’
Successful twice on the flat, Lucky Tonight has a win and five placings from his eight starts over the smaller fences.
He showed potential last winter, running second in three feature races for Mitchell and Houston.
Houston plans beyond this weekend include a Pakenham steeplechase before the big two.
They are a tilt at the $A125,000 Crisp Steeplechase (3900m) at Warrnambool on August 7 on the way to the $A350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 21.
Due to commitments at home, Mitchell has been unable to get to Melbourne to ride Lucky Tonight but hopes to cross the Tasman later in the horse’s campaign.
‘‘I was going over last week but due to wet tracks the trials were put back to Wednesday instead of Tuesday and I couldn’t make it and I can’t go this week,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been a bit of a mess-up but hopefully I’ll get there for his next start.’’
Whanganui trainer Kevin Myers is also sending Waikato Steeples winner Sea King off on another Australian jumps campaign.
He will have four races, the campaign climaxing with the Grand National Steeples at Sandown in late August. He was fourth in the event last year.
His first race will be the Crisp Steeples at Warrnambool in midjuly, he ran second to Grand National winner Bashboy in last year’s edition.