The western district’s loss is SA’s game after the relocation of Warrnambool jockey Harry Grace to Adelaide.
Grace, who broke his wrist and collarbone in a race fall last July, has made the move chasing more opportunities. 
It paid dividends at Morphettville last Saturday with a double led by Alainge in the listed Port Adelaide Cup. 
“I’ve lived in Warrnambool for over four years and I enjoyed it but there are more opportunities in Adelaide,” he said this week. 
“There seem to be a lot more chances in South Australia for lightweight jockeys. 
“I found it was really tough to get established in Victoria again after the fall. 
“I’ll be doing a lot of work for various South Australia trainers including Garret Lynch, who I’ve known for a long time.”
Murray Bridge-based Lynch, the trainer of Alainge, was a fellow track rider with Grace some years ago at the Cranbourne stable of the late Robbie Laing.
Grace won the 2023 Warrnambool Cup on Rolls.
Rose on the road back
Cobden-raised apprentice Rose Hammond will be missing from the riding ranks for another six weeks while recovering from an operation.
Hammond, who has ridden 77 winners from 980 race rides, had a rod inserted in her left femur following a riding accident at Echuca six years ago. Doctors decided this year the time was right to remove it. 
“The doctors said I’d better get the rod, which extended from my hip to knee, taken out,” she said. “It came out two weeks ago but they said it would be eight weeks before I’d be able to ride again. 
“I was having a good run before the operation so I was a bit disappointed that I had to go under the knife. I’d been riding a lot of trackwork at Flemington and Cranbourne and that work was paying off as I was getting rides from Melbourne trainers.”
Hammond is apprenticed to Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone.
It’s a big year for Teo
Former Warrnambool boy Teo Nugent last Saturday notched his second Group 1 victory, guiding the Phillip Stokes-trained Wigmore to victory in the $1 million South Australian Derby at Morphettville. 
The Brauer College old boy said the win was a huge thrill. 
“All jockeys strive to win Group 1s,” he said. “I’m just glad to have got another one. 
“I’ve really got to thank Phillip Stokes. Phillip and his stable have been big supporters of mine since I started and I’m glad to repay him with a Group 1 win. 
“I’m also grateful for the opportunities that Ciaron Maher has given me.”
Nugent described Wigmore as a progressive type of stayer who appreciated soft going. 
“I think there’s a fair bit of improvement in him.”
Nugent’s wife, Claira, is expecting their first child in June.
“We’re really excited,” he said. “It’s going to be a very busy time with our agistment business plus my riding commitments but we’re looking forward to it.”
Nugent’s first Group 1 win was on Portland Sky in the 2021 Oakleigh Plate.