WARRNAMBOOL turned on winter racing in fine style last Sunday with a six-race jumps card supported by a pair of high weight flats contested on a rain sodden track to test the resolve of participants and fans who dodged showers for most of the day.

A trio of maiden hurdles kicked off the day with the spoils split between trainers Cliff Murray (Firefree), Peter Chow (Robbie’s Star) and Eric Musgrove (Your Dash For Cash).

The latter was ridden by Shane Jackson who is having his best season to date, and currently sits equal first in the jumps jockeys’ premiership on 11 wins alongside Steven Pateman. Jackson also featured in the day’s best ‘save’ with his mount Dormello Mo making a mess of the second last in the day’s feature, the Thackeray Steeplechase.

Crashing through the fence Jackson lost both his reins and irons as Dormello Mo went down on his nose before pitching Jackson back up in the air. Jackson landed back in the saddle, grabbed his horse’s neck, got balanced and was able to finish the course in fifth only 13 lengths from the winner. Remarkable horsemanship from the Irishman.

THE New Zealand-bred Killarney Kid took out the feature $100,000 Kevin Lafferty Hurdle over 3,200 metres at Warrnambool improving on his second in the Australian Hurdle in May.

Prepared by Patrick Payne, the nine-year-old Pendragon gelding was ridden by Steven Pateman.

“He was awesome,” said Pateman. “We had a good bit of tempo for him and he absolutely sailed through the mud. I’m looking forward to the Grand Nationals, he’s a pleasure to ride.” Home by five lengths, Killarney Kid with top-weight of 69kg, defeated the British-bred Euroman and Mr Coyne.

Patrick Payne now sits first in the jumps trainers’ premiership as part of a three-way tie that sees Payne, Eric Musgrove and Ciaron Maher all on 10 wins for the season thus far.

Police Camp takes Thackery

TRAINED locally by Simon Ryan, Police Camp added some sweetness to the Ryan stable’s day after they had to say goodbye to the Irish-bred Super Haze who was humanely euthanised by the on-course vet as a result of an injury sustained in the running of the Lafferty Hurdle.

Third in Thackery Steeple last year, the British-bred Police Camp backed up from his Steeple win at Casterton two weeks earlier to down a better quality field in the $100,000 feature over 3,450 metres at Warrnambool.

With Will Gordon in the saddle, the Lawman five-year-old was a two-length winner over the Brierly Steeple victor Bit Of A Lad with the Irish-bred Caroun third.

“He loves it,” said Gordon of the wet conditions. “He’s a real up and comer in the staying ranks. He gave me a real good feel in this race last year but he was always going to take a year or two. He’s really coming in to his own now.”

The win flagged a first feature race win for Simon Ryan who pre-race was preferred Dormello Mo who finished up giving Shane Jackson a torrid time.

“He’s a progressive little horse and he’s gone from the bottom level to nearly the top in a short space of time,” said Simon Ryan of Police Camp. “He’s got a good career ahead of him.

Another Cummings trains winner

EDWARD Cummings, the son of Anthony and older brother to Godolphin trainer James Cummings, has trained his first winner in his own name since parting with his father in January.

“I have the utmost respect for my father and all he has taught me and opportunities his guidance and trust have afforded me these past nine years,” he said. “I am excited about what the future holds and look forward to testing myself.”

Gin Runner saluted in the first at Wellington on Tuesday, just the 10th starter since the stable opened its doors.

AUSTRALIAN racing authorities have revealed that they are testing for a powerful painkiller found in the venom of sea snails.

“We have commenced the testing process for it,” revealed Racing New South Wales deputy chief steward Phillip Dingwall.

Conotoxins

Racing Victoria confirmed a test able to detect conotoxins does exist, which also includes a range of venoms.

Piralt, whose active agent is Ziconotide, is an example of a conotoxin peptide derived from sea snails that has been developed as a non-narcotic pain reliever for human use.