3 minute read

Female jockeys continue to dominate Tasmania’s riding ranks with another outstanding result over the Easter long weekend.

In Brief

• Female riders win 11 of 17 races over the Easter long weekend.
• Codi Jordan retains her lead for the overall premiership.
• Johnstone and Byrne Burke land doubles in Devonport.

The state's leading rider Codi Jordan snared a double in Launceston on Good Friday to take her season tally to 50 wins and extend her lead in the race for the jockeys' premiership.

The Good Friday meeting saw six of the 10 races won by female riders with Jordan securing a double and individual wins to Siggy Carr, and apprentices Erica Byrne Burke, Taylor Johnstone, and newcomer Chelsea Baker.

At Devonport on Monday the girls cleaned up again winning five of the seven races with Johnstone and Byrne Burke claiming doubles and a single for Carr.

Johnsone's double on Monday came courtesy of a top ride aboard Gee Gees Buzz for Team Wells, and she snared the last with a front-running ride aboard the Rowan Hamer-trained Date Night.

Gee Gees Buzz impressed with his commanding win and much to the delight of his trainers, in particular Trent Wells who admitted to snaring the opening price of $26.

But the win didn't come without drama prior to the start as the gelding dumped apprentice Taylor Johnstone on the way to the barriers and made a beeline for the mounting yard.

Thankfully for connections the gelding was passed fit to start and Johnstone escaped the fall without a scratch.

"We ran down from the grandstand to help catch him because we thought he was a big chance to win today and thankfully everything worked out," said co-trainer Trent Wells.

"We put him away after his last start and set him for this Tasbred Bonus race.

"He trialled really well at Longford two weeks ago, so we had a bet today and we got $26, so we are very happy with the result."

Gee Gees Buzz (Wordsmith-Buzzing Along) was backed in from $26 to $10 and won with authority.

Johnstone had the gelding settled just worse than midfield, but he was always travelling comfortably as she urged him to improve from the 500-metre mark while the favourite Stars in the Night ($2.80) led but was challenged almost from the outset by Miss Enthusiasm and Wane's Quest that was three-wide without cover to the home turn.

The favourite shrugged off the early challengers but when Johnstone angled her charge between horses, he powered home to score by over a length from Zeva Royale with Alpine Aviator a close-up third.

Johnstone said the mishap before the start didn't faze her mount.

"He just shied at something and whipped around on me, but it was nothing major and he was fine when I got back on," Johnstone said.

"He travelled so well I thought he would win a long way out and he was strong on the line."

Jordan didn't ride at the Devonport meeting but still holds a nine-win lead over Carr (41) who is one ahead of Byrne Burke with Brendon McCoull lying in fourth place on 38 and Johnson is in seventh pace with 25 wins with just over three months of the season remaining.