TRAINER Jenny Graham has moved early and booked Robert Thompson to ride Sixty Paces in Friday’s $100,000 Country Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Port Macquarie while her daughter, Melinda, has been relegated to strapping the horse.
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Melinda has ridden Sixty Paces to all four of her wins but apprentices cannot claim in the race.
“There is no advantage in using a claiming apprentice and my responsibility to the owners is to secure the best rider possible for such an important race,” Jenny Graham said.
“There is no better rider than Robert. It was a hard decision to make but Melinda understands and her chances will come later when she is a senior rider.”
Graham will also accept with Honest Opinion, a horse that Melinda has won on twice before, but the trainer is also seeking a senior rider for him as well.
Twenty-three horses have been nominated for the race, the second of the seven state wide qualifiers, with acceptances this morning.
The winner and second placed horse will qualify for the $300,000 final over 1400 metres at Randwick on April 4.
Fellow Port Macquarie based trainers Neil Godbolt, Marc Quinn and Colt Prosser have nominated two horses each and Wayne Wilkes and Grant Prosser one each.
Godbolt’s two are Dixie Lad and Elite Dane, Quinn has nominated Explosive Scene and First Class To Rio while Colt Prosser’s two are Prince Mayted and Reorganise.
Wayne Wilkes will be relying Rinn Pierre and Grant Prosser on Mind Freak.
Graham’s immediate concern is to have Sixty Paces fit and seasoned enough to see out the 1200 metres.
She has never won beyond 1106 metres and for that reason the filly was sent to Tuncurry for a trial last Saturday, finishing a half length second behind Road To Summer.
“She is fit and well and I think she will get the 1200 metres,” Graham said.
“The bigger concern is getting her to 1400 metres if she qualifies for the final.”
Honest Opinion however has won over 1200 metres and 1250 metres.
Graham has praised the Country Championship concept.
“I think it has injected a lot of adrenalin into racing,” Graham said.
“Everyone is excited. I have owners in my stable who don’t have a horse in the race but they are taking a keen interest in my two.”
Popular television chef Manu Feildel will be a special guest at the meeting.
