Mudgee-based jockey Anthony Cavallo made a rare but successful appearance at a metropolitan meeting last Saturday. He piloted the Gaynor Williams-trained Zoo Station to victory over 1200m at Rosehill.
Cavallo settled the winner back in the field before calling on her for her effort approaching the 200-metre mark. The mare finished powerfully to defeat Golden Point. Unpredicted held on for third.
“I was just thrilled for “Choc” (Cavallo). He did a wonderful job on her,” Williams said.
“He’s been coming over (to Bathurst) one day a week to ride work, which helps us immensely.
“It’s wonderful that the owner, Steve Dyer, was receptive to leaving Choc on her on raceday.”
Zoo Station is a lightly-raced five-year-old mare, having had just nine starts. Saturday’s win was her fourth and her second first-up victory.
“She had a really good quality spell and came back a much stronger mare ... more mature, and she seems to be putting it all together,” Williams said.
Zoo Station will now be set for the Country Championships Qualifier at Mudgee on February 27.
Honours to Oakfield
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan’s recent good run continued last Saturday when her mare Oakfield Arrow scored at Rosehill.
Although the four-year-old had not led in any of her previous starts, jockey James Innes Jr. was happy to take up the running.
“I gave her a dig initially just to hold her spot,” the rider said.
“I actually expected her to be running fourth or fifth but we got the lead easy. I was able to go through the gears from the 600 and under the light weight she was too good.”
Oakfield Arrow won comfortably from McCormack and Rebel Bro.
Wayne does it again
Just one week after taking out the Inverell Gold Cup with Renegade, trainer Wayne Oakenfull claimed another country cup through Amazingly, ridden by Matthew McGuren, at Gen Innes.
In a tight finish, the seven-year-old scored by a short neck from Dansur, with a long neck back to Our Girl Eve.
Gem in fine form
Scone galloper Remlap’s Gem, with Brett Prebble in the saddle, took out the $105,000 Quality (900 metres) at the Gold Coast last weekend.
The five-year-old was coming off an unlucky third in a 1000-metre benchmark 78 race at Randwick.
Better days for Cejay ...
Apprentice Cejay Graham has made a successful return to race-riding after 11 months on the sidelines.
The 23-year-old suffered a fractured back when dislodged from her mount on the way to the barriers at Lismore in January last year.
Despite the seriousness of her injury, Graham said that she “never doubted” she would ride again.
She resumed on Boxing Day and her first winner back was Graham Payne’s Imprinted, at Coffs Harbour.
She followed that success with two wins for trainer Angela Graham to whom she is now indentured.
Last Saturday Graham had two rides at Rosehill and is very keen to ride again in the metropolitan area. Before her injury she had spent three months at the stables of Peter and Paul Snowden.
She has ridden 11 city winners and can still claim three kilos.
Filly fit and set to fire
The south coast-based father-and-son training team of Robert and Luke Price will be represented by star filly Jamaea in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions 3Y0 Guineas.
Although disappointed that the filly missed a planned lead-up race, the pair remain confident Jamaea will acquit herself well.
 “The 1400 metres first up is a bit of an ‘ask’ but I think she’ll run it (strongly),” Robert Price said. “She’s not going there half-cocked. She’s had three trials and the second two were fairly genuine hit-outs,” he added.