Horse Racing

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Promising galloper She’s A Virtue won her fifth race from six starts providing  apprentice jockey, Jordan Turner, with  his first Saturday victory. Turner then turned it into a double with a win on Travinator.

Before today the son of senior jockey Troy Turner had ridden 18 winners this season on provincial and country tracks.

Trainer Vaughn Sigley said he was impressed with Turner’s performance. ‘He did everything right and followed instructions,” the trainer said after the Gong Xi Fa Cai Handicap (1200m).

Turner was content to throttle back after jumping to the lead at the start, letting Inok take up his customary role as leader before taking over in the home straight and comfortably accounting for Shooey and Our Brucie Bonus.

She’s A Virtue has certainly lived up to her name. Beaten by only a nose at her first start at Pinjarra, on December 14, the four year mare has won effortlessly at five subsequent starts with three quarters of a length being the closest margin the opposition has got to her.

Certainly Vaughn Sigley is proving to be a virtuoso as a trainer too with a winners -to-runners ratio of 23 per cent. Sigley has won quality victories with Black Heart Bart, Dawn Approach and He Or She as well as this latest rising star. 

Turner also provided trainer Daniel Pearce with a double victory, when Travinator, in the centre won in a tight three horse from Du Printemps (rails) and Flytego (outside), in the seventh race (1000m).

Turner ‘outpiked’ the champion rider, William Pike, on Du Printemps, as the photo showed the apprentice at full stretch, and virtually in a  horizontal  position, to get his horse to stretch out for victory.

It was an emotional win for Pearce who had won the first race with Pushin’ Shapes (Alan Kennedy).

“We have persevered with him because we love him so much and he showed today he still has what it takes. Jordan went forward with him into third place early and didn’t panic.”

Travinator had gone 308 days without a win and the former boom galloper has often been the despair of his trainer. “He’s certainly had fitness problems and it has been a long ride with him,” Pearce said.

Although a six year old Travinator has had only 17 starts for an impressive nine wins.

Trainer Neville Parnham also completed a double with Binky Toy, ridden by his oldest son, Steven, and Right Honourable (Jake Casey).

Parnham paid tribute to Casey and Shelby Bowtell for working hard for his stable with both apprentices being rewarded with victories in recent weeks.

Right Honourable with Casey claiming 3kg carried a featherweight of 51.5kg and was never headed. This was a key factor according to the trainer.

The galloper is owned by Parnham’s mother, Joan, and races in the original family colours of yellow with maroon crossed sashes and cap.

Like Travinator it was a ninth win for the seven year gelding –but in 46 starts not 17.