TASMANIA’S feature races are starting to become quite a lure for interstate jockeys with tonight’s Newmarket handicap a perfect example of the quality of rider such a race attracts.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd heads the list and he teams up with the Charlie Goggin-Luella Meaburn-trained Pitt Street that was with Kris Lees before embarking on a Tasmanian campaign.
Rodd is no stranger to Tasmania having won a Hobart Cup aboard Bid Spotter and he partnered 2YO filly Triple Asset to victory in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
New South Wales rider Josh Parr has answered the call from Spreyton trainer Barry Campbell to make the journey across Bass Strait to partner Innocent Gamble in the Newmarket as well as another of Campbell’s horses Lampo in the 3YO maiden (race 1).
Add to the list New Zealand-born Michael Walker who also is no stranger to the Apple Isle as well as Dean Yendall, South Australia’s leading rider Dom Tourneur and we have the nucleus of a star-studded line-up of interstate hoops riding under lights in Launceston tonight.
The other interstate contingent comprises Jason Benbow, Dean Holland, Casey Bruce and Victorian apprentice Harry Coffey.
Anthony Darmanin and Corey Parish also are domiciled in Victoria but they are regular riders in the state with Darmanin regarded as a local these days as he has been a part of Tasmania’s racing fabric for a few years.
The only local jockeys riding in the Newmarket tonight are Brendon McCoull (Rebel Bride), David Pires (Isibaeva) and apprentice Ismail Toker (Snippetee Bee).