Racing personality Richard Callander writes for Racenet every Tuesday

Apprentice Reece Jones is low flying at the moment and I hope it can continue for the young gun but let’s not get carried away just yet.

EARLY DAYS FOR YOUNG GUN

Saturday’s four winners for Reece Jones doesn’t guarantee him star status nor does it mean he will be a regular city rider.

Come on then let me have it.

I’m not a party pooper and I don’t want to be the one that pours cold water on the young man following a brilliant display on the weekend but it’s not the first time an apprentice has had a day out.

On July 17 2010, just 11 years ago, Blake Spriggs, then an apprentice, rode five winners on a Rosehill card. They were Crossbow (Gai Waterhouse), African Prince (Chris Waller), Atomic Force (Darren Smith), Mr Unforgettable (Kevin Moses) and Miss Independent (Chris Waller).

Jay Ford booted home five winners Zinzin (Kevin Moses), Imperialism (Gai Waterhouse), Lilly O’Reilly (Gai Waterhouse), Pensive Warfare (Kevin Miller) and Eastwest Success (Darren Smith) as an apprentice on July 10th 2004 and these boys did it when there were only eight races.

Reece Jones has talent to burn and I will be in his corner cheering but just settle down and stop building the kid up as the next Lester Piggott – or for the younger fans – the next Darren Beadman.

One thing I do know is his lovely mum will keep him grounded realising there is a lot more work to be done.

I have spoken to Reece many times and he is a well mannered young man with a good head on his shoulders and unlike a few other star apprentices, he will listen.

A lot of credit must go to his master Rodney Northam who is often heard spruiking the young man’s ability on the track and his work ethic off it.

But, before we go overboard stop and recall Blake Spriggs, a fine young jockey, but one who struggles for city opportunities and Jay Ford who is best described as a tradesman of the riding ranks.

CASINO KID kicks away to take out the Highway for Jan Bowen and gun apprentice Reece Jones ?

If you followed @PaulJoice1 from Formline on Thursday you got a good price! pic.twitter.com/aVUZwRwvHW

WILLIAMS PROVES AGAIN WHY HE IS AN ELITE RIDER

I suspect Craig Williams woke to the track bias at Eagle Farm on Saturday when he won the fifth race on the card, the 1200m Hinkler Handicap.

In the Hinkler Williams steamed down the middle of the track from last on the gay deceiver Superium.

Superium, at double figure odds, picked his rivals up as though they were going up and down on the spot.

Williams then made his day with a win on Tofane in the Stradbroke and finally a win in the Dane Ripper Stakes on Brooklyn Hustle, which finished that far out on the track Willo could have grabbed a pie off a spectator leaning over the outside fence.

I don’t want to bag Queensland racing or the track after the problems they have had with Eagle Farm and the huge effort they have put in to get the track right, but to deny the bias is to cover up a gaping big crack.

I know next week is at Ipswich, but I wonder about the track at Eagle Farm on Saturday week for the Tatt’s Tiara meeting.

Anthony Mithen of Rosemont Stud and a huge supporter of racing Australia wide was honest and to the point after his mare Brooklyn Hustle won.

When interviewed by Greg Radley on SKY, Mithen left no doubt in anybody’s mind that he thought the mare may have been helped by a fast lane out wide where horses had been working and the grass wasn’t as thick.

The Stradbroke was a great meeting and Brisbane Winter racing is back big time so while I don’t want to bag it, we cannot ignore the obvious.

Brooklyn Hustle flies down the outside to take out the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes

Another win for @CWilliamsJockey ? pic.twitter.com/4NG9H3eegB

TWO-YEAR-OLD HONOURS FOR THE SEASON

The two-year-old season is complete. We have had five Group 1s, with five different winners, so who is the two-year-old of the year?

Artorius finished over the top of them to win the Blue Diamond, Stay Inside blew them away with speed and acceleration in the Golden Slipper, Anamoe left everybody gaping with the ease of his Sires’ Produce Stakes win, Captivant showed determination to win the Champagne and Converge looked on the edge of a big future with his runaway J.J.Atkins win.

So which win was the best and who is the best two-year-old?

I am voting for Stay Inside but I’m convinced Anamoe is the real deal and the one to stick with moving forward.

ANAMOE wins the Inglis Sires'! He was crying out for 1400m and didn't disappoint for @JamesCummings88 and @mcacajamez#TheChampionshipspic.twitter.com/nINoLTzl01

PLENTY TO BUILD ON FOR BRISBANE CUP AND THE Q22

I am not as worried as some by the small field of six in the Brisbane Cup, 3200m.

A lot of trainers did not even realise the race had reverted to 3200m this year and now they know the event is at its rightful journey you will see the field size pick up year to year.

The more long distance races we can encourage the better.

The depth of talent in the new $1.2m race – the Q22 – was a little disappointing.

There were 16 acceptors so there was no problem there but the amount of quality runners was questionable.

Either Zaaki scared them all away after his previous two runs or the Doomben Cup became the grand final for a lot of runners.

Whatever, it is another race to encourage. I’m in favour of these new races and I am sure in time we will get some great editions of the Q22.

First out first home!

Knights Order takes out the G2 Brisbane Cup for @GaiWaterhouse1 & @clarkyhkpic.twitter.com/6grSRdnXNL

CAN HOLD HER OWN IN ANY JOCKEY ROOM

Alysha Collett deserves special mention for five winners at Newcastle on Saturday.

It gave the young lady a bit of ammunition to come back with if her brother Jason started to boast about his winning double on Malkovich and Cisco Bay at Randwick.

Collett returned from Singapore just over 12 months ago and although she has been clocking up the kilometres, she is getting plenty of support and it won’t be long before the powerful young jockey finds her way into town.

SUCCESS IS NO PROMISE IT’S ASSURED

She didn’t beat much in her Aussie debut but do yourself a favour and mark down Promise Of Success so you don’t miss her next time.

The former European galloper who had four runs back home without setting the world on fire broke her maiden at Warwick Farm after being heavily backed with an eye-catching display.

Hugh Bowman took the John O’Shea prepared mare back to last early before letting her amble up around the field coming the bend before asking her for an effort and well, the gate was shut pretty quickly.

Winning Australian debut for Dansili 5yo PROMISE OF SUCCESS

Granddam SW Measured Tempo a 1/2 sis to Gr1 Anabaa Blue, 3rd dam Allez Les Trois a 1/2 to Urban Sea. @JohnOSheaRacing@RosemontStud@Tattersalls1766@[email protected]/YXJrb2JR75

AVDULLA EQUALS JONES AND COLLETT

Reece Jones rode four winners at Randwick and Jason Collett kicked home a double while Brenton Avdulla never won a race – yet all three of them finished on 12 points in the Jockeys’ Challenge.

Avdulla rode the $2.15 favourite Blondeau in the final race of the day finishing third and collecting one point. He only had to run second and he would have the jockeys’ challenge outright without saluting.

Cisco Bay takes out the last at Randwick for @GRyanRacing and Jason Collett pic.twitter.com/Pa4EGxGQDf

WIDDUP RARING TO FIRE RIGHT UP

Trainer Brad Widdup has his stable low flying and he is ready to go come July 3 when the Midway races start.

Come Saturday July 3, a $100,000 race called the Midway will be added to Sydney’s Saturday program for city and provincial stables that aren’t at the big end of town.

A total of 15 stables that account for over 80 per cent of Saturday winners are ineligible meaning a stable of Widdup’s size is perfectly positioned to capitalize.

The first three months have been programmed as Benchmark 72 races but Racing NSW will monitor the horse pool to work out which race will work at the time.

The TAB Highway races have proven a boom for country stables and the Midway is hoping to have the same affect for those qualified to run in them.

Three winners for this Midway sized team today #TeamWiddup#Midway#StartsJulypic.twitter.com/OzLAHKMkQY

ON PACE REQUIRED

I mentioned track bias earlier in the column, well it was certainly beneficial to be on speed at Sandown on Saturday.

If you found the lead and bowled along, you were all but home.

Young apprentice Carleen Hefel and trainer Gavin Bedggood cleaned up big with the wins of No Effort and Sir Kalahad and punters cleaned up big on the pair as well.

Good to see a few different names creeping into the Saturday metropolitan winning columns.

What happened to Jamie Kah, she didn’t ride a winner? I’m not having a go at our superstar jockey, I’m just pointing out it is bigger news these days if she doesn’t win than when she wins.

Way to go, Carleen Hefel and Gavin Bedggood! pic.twitter.com/FimxugPMe2

POCKET ROCKETS COMBINE FOR GROUP 1

I was interested to hear Greg Radley say on SKY it was Tim Clark’s 17th Group 1 success when he won the J.J.Atkins on Converge on Saturday.

Tim, like the horse he rode, is a pocket dynamo. He is a magnificent rider of speed horses and equally at home when patience is required. You don’t back a Tim Clark-ridden horse very often and think it has not had every chance.

WHAT A WIN! Converge takes out the G1 J.J Atkins for @GaiWaterhouse1@clarkyhk rides his 11th G1 for Gai and Adrian

pic.twitter.com/GD1Etu5DhC

EMOTION AND FAIRYTALE NOT ENOUGH

It wasn’t meant to be with Gravina getting the bob in and defeating Steel Diamond at Randwick on the weekend.

I gave Steel Diamond a little kick in memory of the late Rick Worthington, who trained the mare before his death in September last year.

Worthington did a super job winning three races with her from 11 starts and she will continue to carry Worthington’s colours.

I’m marking down both Gravina and Steel Diamond as two horses who will be competing in much higher class races than humdrum winter affairs.

Gravina sneaks up the inside to take out Race 4 from Randwick

Back to back wins for Gravina for @JamesCummings88 & @godolphin. Another win for Reece Jones ? pic.twitter.com/rZAhYTryku

CLASSY LUNN IS THE REBEL

Fair effort by horse and trainer with Classy Rebel running a brave second on Friday at Dubbo and then 48 hours later he was winning the Gulgong Cup by almost eight lengths.

Adding merit to the performances is that both were run on heavy tracks.

Classy Rebel came to the Dubbo stable of Dar Lunn mid last year out of form and looking as though he had lost the zest for racing.

It’s taken the horseman Lunn a little while to get him right but he now has the six-year-old low flying. He’s a dream horse as not many have the versatility to win on a firm 2 and a heavy 9 and 10 like this fella.

Leading bookmaker in the region Mark Reynolds told me the crowd was outstanding and it was a good battle between the bagmen and punters.

Reynolds has shaken up the bookmaking scene in the past 12 months betting low percentages and giving the punters a chance of winning.

Gulgong Cup pic.twitter.com/wcfT064u15

ALREADY ON TRAINERS MINDS

I thought the new races on the calendar wouldn’t have any cut through?

The first thing on legendary trainer Mick Price’s mind following the demolition job by his highly promising galloper Ayrton was the Golden Eagle to be run at Rosehill on 30 October over 1500m.

"You know what the best race for him would be? The Golden Eagle." Mick Price @[email protected]/PBUMpzgcRj

FAV TWEET OF THE WEEK

Mitchell Beer can train horses but he can also entertain through his Twitter account.

His tweet regarding having never ridden tickled my fancy this week.

I’d love a dollar for every time a jockey has used the line.

When my staff say
“Well you’ve never ridden so how would you know”

Please ? pic.twitter.com/rMrLviZyXL

UMMMMMMMM

– Fair dinkum racing twitter on Monday was unbearable. Following Admit It being disqualified from race two at Warwick Farm for weighing in light I reckon 1000 people tweeted they had backed it. It was almost as bad how many were the under bidder on WINX.

– Which owner that was looking to gain his trainers licence has fallen at the first hurdle with the early starts becoming too much. He has decided to stick with offering his ‘expert’ advice from the grandstand.

– Who was the well known racing identity seen enjoying the play Grand Horizons on Monday evening in Sydney? His more famous other half was nowhere to be seen.

BOOKER’S BLACK – A WIN IS COMING

ALLINTHISTOGETHER – She ran fourth in a field of five runners but I was impressed with the debut of Allinthistogether at Canterbury. She will take huge benefit from the run and her time will come.

Great finish to Race 3 at Canterbury with @HugeBowman arriving in the nick of time on Zariya for @JTRacingRwik ? pic.twitter.com/L3GyzQAeK3

FANGIRL – This filly by Sebring was very good on debut last week when running fourth albeit only beaten less than a half length. That run will bring her on and she can sneak a win very shortly.

Almighty Rising staves off the challengers to win the first at Canterbury for @TommyBerry21 and Team Hawkes ? pic.twitter.com/Z1qHVqs8Jr

BEAGLE – He was on debut at Mornington on Sunday and although beaten I liked his effort to finish a close second. The two-year-old colt by Pride Of Dubai is in the Freedman stable and he will win his share of races.

That's two wins in a row for Darceandermill ✌️ pic.twitter.com/gR8vR4rSMp

ELECTRIC BELLE – Look for her she is last and the widest runner and albeit she was beaten 3-¼ lengths her run was full of merit. The track played against her yet she never stopped coming especially the final 100m. She has more wins in store.

Tough filly.

Comica proves too strong for her rivals at Sandown. pic.twitter.com/1CLBlqSxDS

Originally published asReece Jones has a bright future but let’s settle down

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