They say one man’s bad luck is another’s good
fortune.
When Patrick Kelly partnered fledgling jumps star Shutayr
to two wins at Oakbank over Easter he must have been feeling pretty lucky. In the one
weekend he’d captured two races, including the prestigious Yalumba Hurdle (formerly
the Harry D. Young Hurdle) and booked himself a ticket to the Australian Hurdle. He had
every reason to expect an exciting and possibly profitable jumping season.
The affable Irishman had formed an instant rapport with
trainer and former jumps jockey Joe Lockyer who would joke loudly about "the best
jumps jockey in Australia C. Durden" whenever Kelly was within earshot. It was a
grand joke, until the weekend that is, when Pat Kelly broke his leg riding in a point to
point at Mornington.
Ironically it is now Craig Durden whom Lockyer hopes to
book for the ride on Shutayr when he arrives in Melbourne for the LV Lachal Hurdle at
Flemington on June 8th.
Durden has great sympathy for his fellow jockey Pat Kelly
but is nonetheless keen to pick up the ride on Shutayr.
"Pat must be gutted to miss the ride on a horse like
this. He’s (Shutayr) a young, promising hurdler, definitely on the way up,"
Durden said.
Should his commitments to the Houlahan stable permit it
Durden is eager to ride Shutayr throughout his Melbourne campaign, which at this stage
encompasses both the Australian and Grand National Hurdles.
Perhaps it will be Shutayr who is the fortunate one in this
equation, considering Durden’s formidable record in both these races. Durden has won
three of the past four runnings of each race, claiming the double on the exceptional
jumpers Moon Chase and Marlborough, horses he cannot split as the best he’s ridden.
Durden describes his biggest thrill in racing as his first
win in the Grand National aboard Moon Chase in 1998. Asked if he could see Shutayr
developing into a jumper of that class he said,
"The way he went at Oakbank I’d say he had
everything else covered. There isn’t a great deal of depth in the hurdlers at the
moment and nothing outstanding has emerged in Melbourne since. He could go through to the
Grand National this year".
 Wilson Road, beaten
resoundingly by Shutayr in both races at Oakbank, bolstered the form by winning his next
two hurdle races at Geelong and Moe. Durden warned that should the Houlahan stable require
him, it could be for last year’s Australian Hurdle winner Classic Prince. Classic
Prince has missed races this season due to niggling injuries, but should he be ready for
the big jumps races Durden will undoubtedly get the call up.
Lockyer (pictured above), naturally, would like to see
Durden ride Shutayr throughout his Melbourne campaign but is philosophical about his
allegiance to the Houlahan stable,
"Well, mate," he assured, "there’ll be
no shortage of jockeys looking for the ride".
Shutayr pics by Jenny Barnes. |
