CITY BREAKTHROUGHS SPECIAL INDEED FOR GAVENLOCK

KYLIE Gavenlock’s city triumph at a rain-drenched Canterbury yesterday was special in more ways than one.

Not only did the vastly experienced Gosford trainer clinch a metropolitan breakthrough with Zip On By, but also provided her young rider Mollie Fitzgerald with her maiden city success.

Zip On By ($10) revelled in the heavy ground to take the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) for five-year-olds and upwards, defeating Captain Maverick ($6) and Samurai ($26).

Gavenlock is doing an outstanding job with Zip On By since taking her over for this current preparation for breeder-owner Kim Harding and the syndicate which races her.

She has started the six-year-old mare five times – and won three races with her.

“Zip On By is a lovely mare,” Gavenlock said this morning. “She is a beautiful soul.

“But I have to manage her carefully and that’s why her runs are spaced.

“She is definitely better on wet ground, and it’s no coincidence that all her five runs for me have been on rain-affected tracks.”

Zip On By was having her first start since beating subsequent winner Alabama Blitz in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex at Newcastle on August 9.

She had been successful in a Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) at Wyong on June 24 at only her second start for her new trainer.

The daughter of Sebring has now won five races; the first two at Kembla Grange and Newcastle in May and June, 2023 when prepared at Royal Randwick by Les Bridge.

Her granddam, the classy mare Miss Zoe, won the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares at the Newcastle Cup carnival 23 years ago, and not long afterwards became a Group 2 winner the ame year.

However, Gavenlock isn’t tempted to try to repeat the feat with her granddaughter Zip On By in Friday week’s $250,000 Group 3 feature at Newcastle.

“The forecast is for good weather next week, and I have to space the mare’s runs anyway,” she said.

“I’ll keep an eye on the weather, and look for the next suitable race for Zip On By, perhaps back in town.”

Gavenlock understandably was thrilled when talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald put her name up in lights in town.

“Mollie’s father Malcolm (former jockey) used to work for me, and I have known her since she was a kid,” she said.

“She is apprenticed to Annabel and Rob Archibald, and Annabel has held her back riding in town.

“She wanted to be sure she was riding a good chance to showcase her talents.

“Mollie has ridden Zip On By in all her five races for me, and has formed a great association with her.

“It was so special to see her get her first city winner on the mare.”

. HOOFNOTE: Gavenlock has 18 horses in work and a spelling farm to look after as well, and has won seven races from her last 26 starters.

Along with Zip On By’s three, she has also scored with Air Kiss (Newcastle on June 14), Alfred (Wyong, July 24), Renoir (Muswellbrook, July 27) and Thebes (Hawkesbury, August 12).

Story John Curtis, September 10, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos