Commanding Wins and Lionhearted Teens

BOSS IN COMMAND AT CAULFIELD

It was a strong finish for FIRST COMMAND (30: 11-6-2), who has battled injuries throughout his career, and with jockey Glen Boss, won the $100,000 Mal Seccull Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. It was also half of a double for Boss, third in Victoria with 54 wins in the Premiership fixture. First Command’s career path has been a winding one. He once won six-straight and seven of his first nine races through October, 2009. After that, it was just three wins in 20 starts prior to this latest victory. The win also pushed the gelding to $857,690 in career earnings. Trainer Anthony Freedman is now targeting him for the G1 Oakleigh Plate, where First Command lost by 0.5 of a length and finished fourth.

TRUE LIONHEARTED TEENAGER

The changeover in the calendar has not changed the fortunes of South Australia’s leading jockey.  LIONHEARTED GIRL (36: 11-6-2) was a part of a treble for Ms. Jamie Kah at Morphetville on Saturday, giving the 17 year old jockey a win over 1200m. It has been a strong start to the New Year for Kah. The teenager posted a double on New Year’s Day at Morphettville and also won the next day at Murray Bridge. Kah’s 57 wins in South Australia, is 16 more than her nearest competitor in the premiership fixture. A story on Kah from the weekend Advertiser is here: http://tinyurl.com/a7t9yqy. For her 6yo mare, Lionhearted Girl, it was her fourth win over her last five races.

PIKE’S MAJESTIC WEEKEND

Western Australia’s Premiership leader William Pike added to his lead this past weekend with a double and treble. He began his weekend with a double at Ascot, riding FULL REIGN (14:6-0-1) to his longest career win. He followed that up with a treble at Pinjarra on Sunday, which included a win aboard MAJESTIC BOY (86: 10-12-6) in the 9yo’s 86^th career race. Pike’s week also included a double on New Year’s Day. He enters the week with a WA-best 53 ½ wins since August.

SOMETIMES, 70’S THE CHARM

To say JAYBOY (70: 1-8-10) had been waiting awhile for his first win, would be an understatement. Seventy races since race No. 1 in 2007, the 8yo gelding got his maiden victory by winning the country race at Gilgandra over 1300m. According to Racing and Sports.com.au, it was the second-longest maiden-streak in Australia, behind Vote For Lust (90 starts) and ahead of: Albany 10-year-old Jordi  (62 starts), Queenslander Tushuk  (53 starts) and Albany stablemate Miss California  (52 starts).

HOT RUNNERS

Peter Snowden’s stable has another strong young runner in SESSIONS (5: 3-1-1), who won his third career start and was half of a double for jockey Kerrin McEvoy at Warwick Farm on Saturday... FULL REIGN (14: 6-0-1) was half of a double for jockey William Pike at Ascot, as the 4yo gelding has six wins in 14 starts. The win was the gelding’s longest of his career. Meanwhile, TIGER PETE (11: 6-0-2) has won both his starts at Ascot and has six wins overall in 11 starts... MISHANI STEALTH (8: 3-3-2) has now placed in all eight of his career starts, winning his longest distance, 1800m, at Eagle Farm on Saturday... KHALIFA (6: 4-1-1) continues to be a good bet following a 1400m win at Caulfield, placing in all six career races...  GAROZZO (NZ) (25: 7-5-3) won his third-straight, winning over 1500m at Eagle Farm... HOLY TOLEDO (9: 4-0-1) has three of his four career wins coming over the last four races, last winning at Toowoomba over 1000m on Saturday... CAVALLO REIGNS (20: 5-1-6) after a country win at Woolamai, has placed in his last nine races... ELKAY STAR (9: 3-4-0) has finished first or second in each of his last five races following a win at Port Macquarie... LORD BURGHERSH (15: 3-1-2) has now won three-straight following a Parkes win... jockey Greg Ryan had his second-straight treble weekend following a trifecta at Gilgandra. Also at Gilgandra, POWER SHOT (21: 4-2-5) CASTLEREAGH GREY (3: 3-0-0) won their third-straight.

VETERAN WINNERS (over 60 career starts)

9yo Majestic Boy (86: 10-12-6) won over 2005m at Pinjarra

8yo Jayboy (70: 1-8-10) won at Gilgandra over 1300m

7yo Rockdale (66: 6-8-5) won over 1200m at Gold Coast

JOCKEY TREBLES

Ms. Jamie Kah, Lionhearted Girl, Ogunde & Highness, Morphettville

Eddie Wilkinson, Vacant Girl,  Putyourfaithinme & Oscarmania, Sunshine Coast

Brad Rawiller, Here to Dash, Statute & Safari, Cranbourne

William Pike, Comanche Red, Heaven Tonight & Roman Knows, Pinjarra (also a double)

John Kissick, Convivial Miss, As Good as Tyson & First Print, Wangratta

Peter Mertens, Horacio, Jungle Fighter & Eternal Circle, Warrnambool

Robert Thompson, The Hum, The Lions Share & Shocking Bevaviour, Tamworth

Raymond Spokes, Cultural, Lucy O’Charlemagne, Travellin’ Band, Port Macquarie

Greg Ryan, Freton, Sugera & Rapid Canny, Gilgandra

JOCKEY DOUBLES

Kerrin McEvoy, Award Season & Sessions, Warwick Farm

Tommy Berry, Caprossa & Swing Vote, Warwick Farm

William Pike, Full Reign & Accrual, Ascot (also a treble)

Glen Boss, Hazard & First Command, Caulfield

Damian Thornton, Tariana & Snow Cover, Caulfield

Adam McCabe, Handsome Knight & Aerolink, Cranbourne

Anthony Patillo, Luskin Sky & Klubbitt, Gold Coast

Kevin Wharton, First Release & Delmonico, Gold Coast

Ms. Lisa Bivemark, Martinka & Hinzley, Esperance Bay

Brad Parnham, Baleen in Me, Hi Kilmore & Barnsley Lad, Esperance Bay

Mitchell Pateman, Miss Omeresa & Majestic Boy, Pinjarra

Michael Cahill, No More Bull & General Son, Ipswich

Ms. Tegan Harrison, Dynomitella & Karisha, Ipswich

Kenji Yoshida, Kentucky Queen & Plumage, Toowoomba

Ms. Skye Bogenbuger, Zeditave Plus, Miss Imagica & Rocket Boots, Toowoomba

James Winks, Murdoch’s Joy & Sophie’s Tryst, Wangratta

Craig Robertson, Backstedt & Green Roller, Pakenham

Dale Smith, Mairead & Prussian Power, Pakenham

Joseph Cunningham, First Deck & Partexpectation, Dederang

Adam Bodey, Rosecoloredglasses & Gold Viper, Alexandra

John Kissick, Red Colossus & Magnetic Queen, Warrnambool

Adam McCabe, First Course & Timely Truce, Kilmore

Ms. Leanne Henry, Zero Cash & Equiano, Tamworth

Matt Bennett, Damascene & Chikabi, Port Macquarie

Kevin May, Old Mate Shov & Rose of Aranmore, Parkes

Grant Buckley, Realms & Doubt Not, Kembla Grange

Marlon Dolendo, Yupik & Haveyaway, Coffs Harbour