Twist In Tale Gives Stewart Top Ride

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday June 15, 2007

Craig Young and Michael Beattie

IN an ironic turn of events, Brad Stewart will take over from injured jockey Jim Cassidy on Shinkickin Cowgirl in Saturday's Gai Waterhouse Classic, 1350 metres, at Ipswich.

Cassidy was injured after the fall of his mount Bonza Crop at Eagle Farm on Monday, and it was Stewart who tumbled over the fallen jockey. Unlike Cassidy, who will be out of the saddle for up to two months after breaking his right ankle and three ribs, Stewart suffered no ill effects from the fall.

"He is a good jockey and it is great that he has pulled up OK after the fall," Shinkickin Cowgirl's trainer, Neville Voigt, said.

"I hope Jim gets better soon, he is a great bloke."

This will be the fourth time the five-year-old mare will step out at Ipswich. "She knows the track," Randwick-based Voigt said. "Her owners live up that way and they are really excited about her coming up."

Shinkickin Cowgirl has a win and a second in Sydney heading into the Ipswich race.

"We didn't muck around," Voigt said. "We took her up to the Gold Coast last week and my son Chris is looking after her.

"It is going to be a hard race but you never know your luck, you have to give it a try. She is going really good, she is a honest little thing and is hitting her peak now."

Trainer counts on colt

Trainer Anthony Cummings is confident thoroughbred giveaway Count Casino can make a bold showing on debut in the opening race at Rosehill on Saturday.

"The 1300 metres first-up may be a step too far but he has worked well," Cummings said. "He was ready to run last Monday but was scratched due to the heavy track."

Count Casino was won by first-time race player Kontessa Pavlis in a Star City casino promotion.

"She is pretty excited about the whole thing," Cummings said. "I hope we can get the result we want."

The first of the casino giveaways was Casino Prince. Cummings prepared the colt to win three races in a row as a juvenile.

But his run came to an end when beaten as favourite in the Golden Slipper.

Cummings expects a much better showing from Dancing Allegro, which runs in the second at Rosehill.

"Up to 2000 will definitely suit," Cummings said. "He didn't finish it off last start, he wasn't entitled to stop like he did and I was disappointed.

"He has done well since, worked good, and with the step up in distance I expect him to run well."

Barrier no problem

A wide barrier shouldn't bother Commanding Victory in Saturday's Winter Stakes,1400m, at Rosehill after trainer Steve Englebrecht declared: "He is going super."

"It is just that wet tracks and the handicappers are hammering him at the moment," Englebrecht said.

The one-time problem galloper has come good and Englebrecht credits his daughter Gabrielle with the turnaround. "She rode him work, spent a lot of time on the horse, and turned him around," Englebrecht said. "She got his head into gear and we've carried on from where she left off."

Englebrecht's daughter joined the UK stable of Sir Michael Stoute earlier this year and isn't expected home until November.

Cave's cup chase

Trainer Paul Cave will again try to win the Winter Cup, 2400m, with Mr Collins at Rosehill after the seven-year-old finished fourth last year. "He likes the distance and he likes the going," Cave said. "Hopefully we can turn things around this time."

The gelding has had four runs this preparation over shorter assignments.

"We are very happy with him," Cave said. "We gave him a hit-out at Canberra on the Acton track last start which was a good bit of exercise for him, it is an easy surface [synthetic track].

"He finished off the race well."

Cave has employed the services of jockey Grant Buckley.

"He is coming third overall in the NSW premiership and he is a great judge of pace," Cave said.

Pengelly gets chance

Doomben trainer Tracey Green is hoping Mr Hornblower can reward jockey Brad Pengelly in the Eye Liner Stakes, 1350m, at Ipswich.

"He works really hard for us," Green said. "He has to get down to some pretty light weights, which hasn't been easy for him. He is a lovely rider and a real gentleman."

Pengelly has partnered the gelding in his past four runs. "Brad rides him perfectly," Green said.

"We got shuffled back in the QTC Cup which cost us a couple of lengths and his run in the BTC Sprint where he finished second to Friday Creek was heartbreaking. He was in front in the straight, in front past the line but not on it.

"He is as solid as the day is long," Green added of Mr Hornblower. "We are keeping him fresh and sticking to the shorter distances. "

AJC still in limbo

A fractured Australian Jockey Club committee has called for a new round of applications for the position of chief executive.

Long-serving chief Tony King is closing in on retirement.

The AJC committee couldn't agree on a new chief executive after engaging a recruitment team at a healthy cost to come up with a list of candidates.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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