Horse Racing
20 August, 2024
Winners from afar highlight meeting
THE eight-race program on Warracknabeal Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday produced winners from many distant areas.
From Flemington, Cranbourne, Mornington to country Victorian venues, Kilmore, Telopea Downs, Wangaratta, Swan Hill to interstate Strathalbyn South Australia.
In the final race, Palace Hotel After The Last 1205 metres, Highland Harley, a $5 second favourite, was a dominant and impressive all the way winner by 5.75 lengths.
Ridden by Mickaelle Michel, a young female jockey from France, who only arrived in Australia in January following urging from a friend here to try these surroundings.
Now residing at Ascot Vale close to Flemington, Mickaelle rides trackwork at various venues as far as Ballarat for trainers including Cumani, Hickmott, Griffiths and De Kock.
She has ridden 14 winners in Australia already and when her visa expires next January she hopes to have it renewed and apply to remain permanently here.
Highland Harley is trained at Cranbourne by Enver Jusufovic which was the first start for the stable following a transfer from Liam Howley. The change of environment is evident having not started this year and producing this dominant first up win.
For Enver, it was a small compensation as some minutes earlier the stable star Pinstriped ran a close second in the Group Two P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield behind Gentleman Roy.
Enver is an avid St Kilda supporter with the stable having the red, white and black in the stable silks. The day would have capped off an enjoyable day with his St Kilda beating Geelong later in the evening.
In race four, the Emmetts Handicap over 1005 metres, border hoppers from Strathalbyn husband and wife Shayne and Chelsea Cahill, a newly formed training partnership, had their first win together when Kora saluted ridden by Harry Grace.
Shayne had a dual licence last season but retired as a jockey last month so was able to team up with his wife to form a training partnership.
It was a successful return for Shayne who won with Rialtin here on June 28.
The next race meeting at Warracknabeal is on Saturday, August 31 featuring the bet365 Sheep Hills Cup.
WRITTEN BY LANCE HUEBNER