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Veteran rider Peter Hall will be guiding winners of a different kind as the new jockey coach at Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA).
In announcing the appointment, Racing Careers and Training Manager Ron Fleming said Mr Peter Hall's skills showed in his career stats of more than 1000 wins for over $22 million prize money, including three Perth Cup victories.
"Peter is known as The Cups King. He has won almost every race in Western Australia several times and ridden all over Australia as well as internationally," he said.
"Peter has always had good relationships with his fellow jockeys and apprentices. He has the empathy as well as the knowledge and experience to excel as a jockey coach."
Mr Hall, who first earned his permit to ride in January 1983, said he was delighted to take up the new challenge.
"I've had a great career in the saddle and this new opportunity is fantastic because I've been helping young kids for a while. It's the perfect transition," he said.
"Racing is a big family and, now my daughters have grown up, I'm looking forward to being a dad to about 30 kids instead of two."
Among the highlights of his successful career, Mr Hall said he had three clear favourites.
"The first was winning the Perth Cup on my dad Alan Hall's horse Black Tom in 2006, followed by the fairytale experience of riding Black Tom in the Melbourne Cup," he said.
"Second was Delicacy, the little mare I won two Group 1 races with: The South Australian Derby and Australasian Oaks. We also went on to win the Perth Cup.
"Third was last year with Ihtsahymn. I won two Darwin Cups with him, two years in a row."
Mr Hall shares the experience of being a Melbourne Cup rider with his predecessor in the RWWA jockey coach role Jeremy Hustwitt, who rode Beaux Art in 1996.
Mr Hustwitt, who has been mentoring trainees and apprentices since 2004, is retiring shortly. Mr Hall will finalise his jockey commitments and pick up the role in September, working alongside fellow RWWA coach John Claite.
"We wish Jeremy well and thank him for many years of service in helping young jockeys develop their careers," Mr Fleming said.
