Victoria’s lockdown uncertainty hits jockeys ahead of Group 1 day
Some of Australia’s best jockeys are scrambling to get to Queensland early for a Group 1 Saturday ahead of the uncertainty of potential new COVID measures in Victoria.
With Victoria not ruling out a snap lockdown in response to new COVID-19 cases, some Victorian jockeys are already heading north while others are mulling over their options.
A lockdown could be looming as further five new cases of COVID-19 emerged in Victoria overnight, with a total of 10 new local infections uncovered in 24 hours.
The Victorian Government is now understood to be in frantic talks about the prospect of a snap lockdown after earlier ruling it out.
John Allen has already jetted to Queensland early ahead of his ride on Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Derby favourite Explosive Jack while Ben Allen (Let’s Karaka Deel in Derby) is in transit.
Melbourne Cup winner Jye McNeil is making his way north.
They have stood down from their rides at Sandown on Wednesday.
Jamie Kah is set to ride Stradbroke Handicap favourite Ayrton in the Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the boom Mick Price/Michael Kent Jr galloper tries to win his way into the Stradbroke.
Jamie Kah. Pic: Getty.Source:Getty Images
On Wednesday morning, Kah’s manager indicated the star hoop would take her rides at Sandown on Wednesday afternoon before “all going well” she jetted to Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Mark Zahra has a newborn baby and Victorian Jockeys’ Association boss Matt Hyland said he was unlikely to fly to Queensland early.
The Victorian COVID situation will become clearer today when the State Government announces what their latest measures would be.
As of Wednesday morning, the only area of Victoria that Queensland had slammed its border shut to was the City Of Whittlesea local government area.
The move by several top jockeys to head to the Sunshine State early came as AFL teams Essendon and Hawthorn were set to flee Melbourne on Wednesday to guarantee their weekend matches.
Originally published asLockdown uncertainty: Top jockeys scramble for Qld flights
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