LAST year’s winning rider Jason Collett has been called on to haul luckless Territory Express back into winning form in the $1m The Gong at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Trainer Paul Niceforo, in confirming Collett’s booking on Sunday, said he is glad to have the experienced jockey back on board the gelding for the 1600m Group 3 feature in the hope he can end a series of unlucky performances this preparation.
Leading apprentice Zac Lloyd won the Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) on Territory Express at Royal Randwick in April, and also when he won a Qualifier over the same distance first-up at Kembla Grange in February.
He has also partnered the gelding at his last two starts; the latest when a very unlucky and fast closing fifth to Pericles in the $2m Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 9.
“Territory Express with a bit more luck could have won all his three starts this campaign,” Niceforo said on Sunday.
“Zac is serving a suspension, but I was disappointed with his ride on the gelding in the Five Diamonds.
“He was told to get to the outside in the straight, but stayed near the inside and couldn’t get clear running until it was too late.
“Jason rode Territory Express earlier in his career, and won his Maiden (1400m) on him at the Newcastle Cup carnival in September last year.
“Zac got on the horse at the start of his previous campaign when Jason was out of action.”
Territory Express has raced twice at Kembla Grange for a photo-finish second in a Class 1 Handicap (1400m) eight days after his Maiden victory at Newcastle last year, and his barnstorming win in the PMC Qualifier (1400m) in February when he got clear running and overpowered Willaidow and Cloudland.
That form carries plenty of substance as Willaidow has subsequently won three of his last four starts in town, and Cloudland won the greys’ race, the Subzero Handicap (1400m), at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Whilst Collett is riding Territory Express, his winner last year (Detonator Jack) and recent impressive $3m Big Dance (1600m) hero Gringotts will form part of an expected strong Ciaron Maher team in The Gong.
Gringotts is the $2.80 favorite in TAB.com.au’s early The Gong market, with Territory Express next at $5 and Detonator Jack at $15.
Illawarra Turf Club racing manager Zane Campbell said all the signs are that Saturday’s meeting will be the best yet since The Gong was introduced in 2019.
“We had a terrific crowd at our meeting yesterday, so that augurs well for next Saturday,” Campbell said on Sunday.
Provincial trainers Claire Lever (Hawkesbury) and Greg McFarlane (Gosford) were winners at Bathurst’s TAB meeting on Saturday.
Lever took the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m) with Russian Zarina ($4), ridden by apprentice Jess Brookes, and senior jockey Mathew Cahill partnered McFarlane’s Catchy Tunes ($2.80 favorite) to victory in the Class 2 Handicap (1100m).
Fellow provincial trainers Damien Lane (Wyong) and Nick Mitchell (Gosford) joined in by getting amongst the Sunday winners at Taree.
Lane took the Maiden Plate (1600m) with $2.50 chance Oakfield Peewee (Aaron Bullock), and Mitchell won the Class 1 Handicap (1300m) – heat of the Rising Star Series – with $16 chance Smart Serenade, ridden by apprentice Shae Wilkes.
Story John Curtis, November 17, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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