Irish jockey Luke Dempsey achieved his first winner in Australia by riding Fighting Sweet to victory in the Midland Express BM52 Handicap at Hanging Rock races on New Year’s Day.
The two long established Hanging Rock race meetings each January often throw up stories with a difference, and the January 1 meeting was no exception.
Apart from Dempsey’s first winning ride in Australia, the six-event meeting also produced two new track records on a ‘soft 5’ rated track, and a Kyneton-trained galloper purchased a couple of months ago for a ‘bargain basement’ $1000 broke his maiden status.
Kyneton & Hanging Rock Racing Club’s meeting was favoured by fine weather conditions to assist in attracting local and visiting racegoers.
‘The Rock’ proved once again to be a fine location for a picnic, with Kelly Sports giveaways appreciated by many of the younger generation.
Efforts to maximise attendance was not helped with an incorrect morning announcement by a betting agency that the meeting had been cancelled. This may have occurred due to confusion over New Year’s Day being a non-TAB meeting, unlike the Australia Day Hanging Rock Cup meeting later this month.
100th FOR STABLE
The win by six-year-old mare Fighting Sweet in the Midland Express Handicap over 1800m was special for Irish jockey Dempsey, and also the successful Grampians Racing and trainer Andrew Bobbin.
It was the 100th win for Grampians Racing, based at Lake Fyans, between Halls Gap and Stawell, and Bobbin said the mare had been one of two gallopers he had in work initially.
“Three years on and almost to the day, its fitting she gives us our 100th race win.”
Bobbin praised Dempsey for his determination to succeed in Australia.
“He’s had plenty of success riding over jumps in strong company in Europe, and he’s an accomplished rider and a hard worker.”
Bobbin said Dempsey had been largely riding “slow horses” in jumps races in Victoria, and the win at Hanging Rock was a welcome breakthrough.
It was the six-year-old mare’s 30th start, and she ‘backed up” on January 1 after finishing fourth at Kerang two days earlier.
Dempsey settled Fighting Sweet, a $3.50 chance, near the rear of the field after the leaders had set a hot pace, and timed his run to perfection to win by nearly two lengths in the final race of the day.
The district racing club is now concentrating on preparing for its Australia Day meeting on Friday, January 26.
Missed Victory salutes
Missed Victory sounds like a name that would have to defy the odds to end up being a winner on the race track.
And so it was at Hanging Rock races on New Year’s Day.
Carrying the gold and blue colours of long time Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer, Missed Victory chalked up his first win after being unplaced at his previous six starts.
Ridden by John Keating, the five-year-old came from last in the 1800m Carlton Draught Maiden Plate to win well.
Missed Victory is raced by stable foreman James Dyer (Neil’s son) and racing enthusiast Brendan Fraser .
James is a keen student of form and breeding, and said he reached the conclusion that Missed Victory could be a useful middle distance performer.
Previously the galloper was trained by Saab Hussan without impressing , and James managed to purchase the galloper for just $1000.
His first runs for the Dyer stable earned prizemoney, and January 1 was the day Missed Victory produced his best , starting as a $7.50 chance.
Neil Dyer is building up a sizeable team for his annual pilgrimage north for the Darwin Cup, and other races, later this year.
