| A hobby trainer
from Hamilton and a young apprentice from Mount Gambier have experienced their greatest
thrill in racing when Jewel of Kingston scored an upset win in the Brian Beattie Handicap
(2640m) at Flemington today. Winning trainer
Allan Clarke, who's held an owner/trainer permit for about seven years, had not tasted
success in the metropolitan area before today's event.
And the saddle of Jewel of Kingston was today filled by Mount
Gambier apprentice jockey Dominic Mittiga, who'd cracked his first city winner from just a
handful of rides.
Jewel of Kingston, who finished a handy third to Sly Rambler
and subsequent Adelaide winner Showgazer in the recent Mount Gambier Cup, is a lightly
raced eight-year-old mare who's been in great form.
"She's done a great job for us," winning trainer
Allan Clark said. "I've had her since she was a three-year-old and she didn't race
until she was five."
"Being by Kingston Mill I decided she was just going to
need some time, so she's been pretty lightly raced," Clark added.
Clark, who has "a couple" or horse in work, is only
a part time horse trainer. During the day he works for the Agricultural Department at
Hamilton.
Jewel of Kingston, who is from the Always There mare Gemma
Joan, has now been a winner in distances ranging from 1000 metres to today's 2640 metre
journey. |
