Moruya, Scone previews: Giddy Up Gidleigh to provide an emotional win for Joseph and Jones families

The Jones/Joseph clan are preparing for a bittersweet debut win for their exciting galloper Giddy Up Gidleigh at Mourya on Tuesday in the race named in honour of family patriarch Lou Joseph who passed away last week aged 98.

Mr Joseph was the father-in-law of the Queen of Bombala, Barbara Joseph who co-trains Giddy Up Gidleigh with her sons, Paul and Matt Jones.

“We were very pleased when the Club offered us the naming rights of the race in memory of Lou,” Paul Jones said.

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Jordan Mallyon will partner Giddy Up Gidleigh for trainers Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones. Photo: Racing Photos via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“It’s actually his funeral on the same day so it would be fitting if we could get his own race colours home in the race named after him.

“I think the jockeys will be wearing black armbands in the race as well.”

Giddy Up Gidleigh has done enough at home and in his trial at the Sapphire Coast on July 25 to ensure that Lou Joseph’s ubiquitous Yellow with Red Diamond colours end Tuesday’s card on a fitting and poignant moment for so many.

The son of Star Turn finished a close fourth in his heat but could have just as easily won had things gone his way.

“It wasn’t all about winning there that day, it was more about just getting the experience,” says Jones.

“He has been a little bit fractious in the gates so he has got to get away cleanly on Tuesday to be not too far off them.”

As well as his obvious talent, Giddy Up Gidleigh has the pedigree to compete at a higher level in time.

His dam is by Exceed And Excel, while his grandam, Upper Crust, is a daughter of Octagonal out of Doomben 10,000 and Coolmore Classic winner, Flitter.

Coincidentally, Flitter’s Coolmore win came only a matter of hours after Octagonal won the Todman Slipper trial.

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Speaking of Octagonal, he is the great-grandsire of the Jones/Joseph team’s other Moruya-bound runner, namely Pride Of Kalaru.

While Tuesday is naturally a sad and sombre occasion, a Pride Of Kalaru win would be a cause for celebration for all involved given it would be the first winner for the team’s apprentice, Teaghan Martin.

“Teaghan is a 21-year-old Kiwi,” Jones explained. “She has got plenty of experience riding trackwork and she got her ticket and has had five or six rides now for a couple of placings and a near miss at Narrandera.

“Teaghan rode Pride Of Kalaru from a good gate down at the Sapphire Coast where we felt that he probably should have won.

“And I think to give him his chance against those horses on Tuesday with the 59kg, we had to get that separation in the weights which we have got now with Teaghan’s claim.”

Pride Of Kalaru has won twice in his 30 starts together with seven placings, five of those are seconds.

A son of Golden Rose winner Denman, Pride Of Kalaru is out of a Husson half-sister to Sirmione won the 2008 LKS Mackinnon Stakes at odds of $61 before returning in the autumn to become one of Bart Cummings’s 13 Australian Cup winners.

SEARLE’S CLAIM WILL HELP WITNESS PROVE SUPERIOR

Boom apprentice Jackson Searle can thank his father as much as trainer Luke Thomas for the plum ride aboard fleet-footed galloper Superior Witness in Tuesday’s Arrowfield Handicap (900m) at Muswellbrook.

Searle, who is apprenticed to Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan, has quickly established himself one of the state’s most promising young riders with a mix of brain and brawn.

“I actually used to rodeo with his father, Justin,” Thomas said. “He was a very good bull rider.

“Jackson rides really well and he’s got the right people helping him being indentured to Cody Morgan.”

Searle’s claim will come in handy aboard Thomas’s son of Star Witness who will need to overcome a wide draw and potentially break his duck on a good track in Tuesday’s sprint.

“I am not that worried about the good track because there were expecting five to ten millimetres up there late on Monday afternoon which will help him but I’ve seen him gallop on top of the ground and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is more effective,” Thomas explained.

Trainer Luke Thomas is looking forward to Silent Witness showing what he can do on a dry track at Scone. Photo: Getty ImagesSource:Supplied

“He would probably have a better turn of foot on top of the ground but it just worked out that he won those races on the heavy and people labelled him as just a wet-tracker.

“To be honest, he is probably better drawn 12 than he is 1 because he is a very high-cruising horse.

“One day we drew well at Dubbo with him and he stepped away a bit funny. Something half crowded him and it was a bit of a mess after that.

“It’s only one turn and you’re home at Scone so at least out there, he can do what he pleases without having any pressure from being bottled up,” Thomas said.

So far as pressure goes, Thomas is hoping there will be plenty of it in the last race on the card to assist stablemate Dragoneight’s barnstorming finish.

“He’s had no luck at his last two runs,” Thomas said.

“I think will clear running he wins the other day. He just got back too far and then got crowded the last 25 or 50 metres when he looked like he was only just hitting top speed.

“I think he is going as good as ever but he just can’t get any luck.”

Originally published asMoruya, Scone previews: Gidleigh striving for a fitting debut

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