OUTSTANDING Leeton apprentice John Kissick has no immediate plans to head to the city despite outriding his claim at Albury last week.
Kissick has received offers to join the stables of leading Sydney trainers Joseph Pride and John O’Shea but will stay with experienced mentor Peter Clancy at Leeton for the time being.
Kissick rode his 80th career winner at Albury last Friday and took that tally to 82 with a double at Carrathool on Saturday.
It has taken Kissick just 18 months to ride the 82 winners and three of those months were spent on the sideline due to injury.
As a result of his success, Kissick’s claim drops from 1½ kilograms to nothing and he must now compete at an even level with experienced senior jockeys.
Kissick looks forward to the next challenge of his riding career.
“I’m going to stick around here and start travelling to places like Wodonga and Wangaratta and get to a lot of places I haven’t been until Peter thinks I’m ready to go to Sydney,” Kissick said yesterday.
“I’ve had a few offers but I want to stick around here a bit longer and get a bit better and work on a few things.”
Kissick has showed he has a strong resolve to make it as a jockey. He overcame a smashed pelvis at the start of his career when a horse flipped over on him.
The 20-year-old has already ridden 49 winners this season and is the leading NSW apprentice, one ahead of Sydney young gun Chad Schofield.
Kissick is also third on the country jockeys premiership behind Greg Ryan (64) and Brendan Ward (57).
Kissick aspires to win the Southern District jockeys premiership, which he leads.
“That’s my goal for the season,” Kissick said.
Clancy is renowned as a brilliant mentor for young apprentices and has already helped brothers Brad and Tim Clark come through the ranks.
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GUNDA GAI trainer Michael Murphy is enjoying a wonderful ride with Merlin Mustang.
The promising three-year-old scored his third consecutive win at Kembla Grange last Wednesday when he took out the 3YO Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m).
The race was worth $27,000 given it was a metropolitan meeting being held at Kembla Grange.
Merlin Mustang ($14.10) was rated a treat in front by Brendan Avdulla and raced away to win by 1¾ lengths.
It was his third straight win at Kembla Grange after scoring his maiden there on January 7 before backing it up again over 1300m to win his Class One.
Murphy hopes Merlin Mustang, with only six starts to his name, can now measure up to a better class race during the autumn carnival in Sydney.
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FORM ER Southern District stayer Leica Larrikin is gearing up for his Autumn return.
His first campaign for Sydney trainer Les Bridge was unsuccessful when nothing went right for the talented six-year-old.
Leica Larrikin finished third behind Herculian Prince and Viking Legend in a Randwick trial on January 27.
He was two lengths behind the winner in a trial that also featured Caulfield Cup winner Descarado.
Leica Larrikin was set to resume at Warwick Farm last Saturday but the meeting was abandoned due to wet weather.
Leica Larrikin has been nominated for the Doncaster Handicap and it will be his main goal for the carnival.
He did his best work for Corowa trainer Richard Freyer, who maintains part-ownership along with Albury Racing Club committeeman Richard Hickey.
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THE time-honoured Tumbarumba Cup will begin a busy few days for the region’s racing codes on Saturday.
The $7500 Tumbarumba Cup will be the feature of the six-race card.
Tumbarumba Turf Club has not experienced much luck with its cup day in recent times and went without racing last year after the cup meeting was abandoned.
Club officials will have a keen eye on the weather as both the 2010 and 2011 cups were washed out, with the 2010 eventually being run due to it being postponed to a later date.
Rain is forecast for later in the week.
The club received 46 nominations originally but they were extended.
Larrikin Joe will go for his second cup victory after winning it in 2009, while others among the entries are Fuhrsty, Halfashot, Patra Rivers, Red Hot Rock and Rosecoloredglasses.
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club will host a competitive seven-race card on Monday.
MTC received 131 nominations for the seven races but entries have been extended until 11am today for three of the races on the program.
Nominations have been extended for the Open Handicap (1200m), Maiden Plate (1800m) and the 2&3YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
While the Open Handicap (1200m) only has 10 nominations to date it shapes as a competitive race with the likes of Tarrabandra, Devised, Riverina Lad, Ambergris and Eye Of The Needle all nominated.
Tarrabandra is down to race at Kembla Grange today in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m) but trainer Peter Clancy is waiting to see the track rating before making a final decision.
Tarrabandra has drawn wide at Kembla Grange and Blake Shinn has been booked to ride.
The five-year-old was an impressive trial winner at Wagga on Australia Day but is first-up from May last year.
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WAGGA trainer Trevor Sutherland continued his outstanding season with a dominant performance at the iconic Carrathool race meeting last Saturday.
Sutherland took over a strong team to the meeting and managed to train half the card, including the $10,000 cup.
In-form sprinter Ambergris ($2.40) took out the cup, a Benchmark 67 Handicap (1400m), with a narrow victory over the Phil Sweeney-trained Hawkshaw ($8.00).
It has been an interesting past six weeks for Ambergris.
She broke the track record when winning at Canberra on December 30, then was more than competitive when sixth at Rosehill in Saturday grade on January 14.
From Rosehill on a Saturday, she went from one extreme to another to be winning at Carrathool only three weeks later with just a second placing at Canberra in between.
Michael Heagney rode Ambergris to the cup win while young gun apprentices John Kissick and Jason Collins both enjoyed winning doubles on the day.
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EXPERIE NCED Southern District jockey Nick Souquet produced a strong comeback from injury at Wodonga on Monday.
Souquet was knocked out at Albury last Friday when he fell aboard Lareina’s Magic in the Ace Radio 2AY Maiden Plate (1000m).
He was taken to hospital but subsequent X-rays cleared him of any serious injury.
Souquet was quick to return to the saddle at Wodonga on Monday and enjoyed success when he piloted Dixie Doll ($9.50) to victory in the Rating 62 Handicap (2050m).
Souquet told TVN in a post-race interview that he was still a bit sore and sorry.
“I’ve still got a pretty sore back but it’s a long way from my heart,” Souquet said.
An inquiry into the reason Souquet fell at Albury has been adjourned until a date to be fixed.
Meantime, Southern District had a bit of success at the Wodonga meeting with Albury trainer Donna Scott and apprentice Ashlee Beer combining for joy on Zeiss ($17.70) in the Rating 68 Handicap (1200m).
Jockeys Amanda Masters on Esprit De Jouet ($27.80) and Simon Miller on Mythical Lad ($8.10) also enjoyed winners.
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ALBURY Racing Club officials are hopeful Nash Rawiller will be riding at its cup day next month.
Rawiller will be the special guest at the ‘Business and Barrels Luncheon’ that traditionally launches the carnival at Albury’s Commercial Club on March 2.
Albury Racing Club chief executive John Miller understands Rawiller is keen to come back and ride on cup day if he can secure good rides.
Rawiller has not ridden at Albury in more than 10 years but there is plenty of appeal about this year’s Gold Cup on March 23.
The Albury Gold Cup is worth $170,000 and will be run as a listed race for the first time this year.
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WAGGA’ S social night of nights is rapidly approaching, with the 100 Club Gala Dinner and Draw to be held this month.
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s glittering event on Saturday, February 18, will be highlighted by the draw of the exclusive naming rights for the $140,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
“One lucky local business will receive a windfall by winning the Wagga Gold Cup naming rights,” MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said.
“Every business involved in the 100 Club will receive a race date during the season, so they will all be winners.
“And the Gala Dinner and Draw promises to be a wonderful night as internationally-renowned illusionist Consentino – the runner-up in Australia’s Got Talent – will headline a top list of entertainment.”
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