3 minute read

Sunday in Devonport will be busy for comeback jockey Hayley McCarthy who has a ride in each of the eight races and some with strong winning chances.

Hayley McCarthy was off the scene for four years due to a badly broken foot and it was only in November last year that she resumed her career that at times she thought had passed her by.

Since then, McCarthy has re-established herself as one of the state's most sought-after jockeys as evidenced by her full book this week end.

"My fitness is obviously improving with each meeting as the weeks go by, as far as the foot is concerned, I still wake up pretty stiff after each race day but after a couple of quiet days I seem to be ok again," McCarthy said.

"I am absolutely loving being back out there, there's a really great team of jockeys who are great to ride with."

Even during her four years on the sidelines, McCarthy noted the swell in numbers of female jockeys in Tasmania, so much so that in recent times, the jockeys rooms in Devonport have been swapped with the females moving to the more spacious male room.

"The numbers have definitely increased and most of the apprentice jockeys coming through are females."

With a strong book of rides, it seems only a bad barrier could stop McCarthy from winning the opening race. She will ride Ian's Finale who ran a cracking second at the track a fortnight ago but has drawn one from the outside in the 1009m maiden.

"You would think that he would be hard to beat had he drawn a little bit better than what he has."

Throughout the day most of McCarthy's rides look to have a least an each-way hope but she thinks her best chance is aboard track specialist Square Donut in the BM68 over 1350m.

"I don't know if he's one of my favourite horses, he's got a bit of a tricky personality but he's firing at the moment and he goes really well at the track and trip."

Square Donut has raced 10 times in Devonport for four wins and five placings, all four of his wins have been at the 1350m.

McCarthy has been aboard Square Donut at his past two wins and it's fair to say that her rides on each occasion have been top notch.

"I've had a bit of luck especially last start; I think I was a little lucky to get the run along the fence."

Looking for a best bet, I like Fire On Mazz in race 2. It was a huge effort last start to run fourth after being caught wide throughout and now having her third start for John Blacker, she should be cherry ripe.

In race 5, Carneros was another who didn't have much luck last time when having his first run for Barry Campbell since coming from Queensland and from barrier one should get all the favours.

Racing gets underway at 11:45 and concludes at 16:14, all the action on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.