Replacement jockeys found for $70,000 group three White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age contenders
Doni Prastiyou has been engaged to ride Tommy Tucker and Terry Moseley for Gallant Boy in the $70,000 group three White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age (1600m) at Wingatui on Saturday (February 2) after a search for replacement jockeys by WRL trainers Brian and Shane Anderton.
The WRL sponsored race is in its 46th year. Tommy Tucker and Gallant Boy finished first and second last year, the first time the race had been run under wfa conditions.
"It has not been easy finding riders as there is another premier meeting at New Plymouth the same day,'' said Shane.
Shankar Muniandy, who rode Tommy Tucker in his win last year, returned to Malaysia last month. Stable jockey Jacob Lowry was offered the mount but he has opted for Boots 'N' All, whom he rode to a last start win in the listed the Timaru Cup (1600m) on December 28. Lowry won an open 1600m on the Lance Robinson-trained Boots 'N' All at Wingatui last March.
"It was a very difficult choice but Boots 'N' All is in a purple patch and is heading to the North Island for a group one race ($200,000 Haunui Farm WFA at Otaki on February 23),'' said Lowry, who has ridden Tommy Tucker in 10 of his 16 wins including the wfa Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).
The 10yr-old Tommy Tucker has had two races in a fresh campaign and worked to the satisfaction of his trainers at Wingatui on Thusday between races.
"He was probably going a fraction better than Gallant Boy at the finish and they had it on Ablaze," said Brian.
The Pukekohe-based Prastiyou is no stranger to Tommy Tucker. He rode the Gallant Guru gelding in successive wins in rating 75 races at Waikouaiti and Gore in January 2014 when apprenticed to Paul Richards at Wingatui. Prastiyou won on Roc The Cradle at Wingatui on Friday.
A new rider was required for Gallant Boy after stable apprentice Corey Campbell fractured a kneecap. He sustained the injury when unseated from a horse at the North Taieri training establishment on January 7. He has his left leg in a brace and is not expected to be back race riding until early March.
Gallant Boy has been in good touch this season with a win fresh up over 1400m at Wingatui in November, a win over 2150m at Invercargill and a last start fourth in the Timaru Cup in the hands of Campbell. Moseley, who rode Gallant Boy on Thursday, rode He Kin Fly to win the listed Timaru Stakes and Shezatoucha to win the Dunedin Cup Trial at Riccarton on Saturday.
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Princess Brook, who ran third in the 2018 White Robe Lodge WFA, has been retired from racing after going amiss at her last start when fourth in the Gore Cup. The daughter of Raise The Flag - Lesley Brook won nine races and $201,340 in stakes when trained by Terry Kennedy for North Taieri breeder Fred King. Princess Brook won the 2015 Tapanui Cup, 2017 Gore Cup and three open handicaps to 2200m at Wingatui. She had 18 minor placings in 44 starts.