CO Wicklow native Shane Jackson landed one of the biggest wins of his career in Sunday’s A$100,000 Kevin Lafferty Hurdle over Warnambool’s 3,200 metres. To top the day he completed a winning double on his home track by riding one on the flat, an ideal way to celebrate his wife Lauren’s birthday.

Legged up by Symon Wilde, for whom Jackson works, Gold Medals continued his solid form this season, this being his third hurdle win in his past four jump starts. Carrying 64kgs in the genuinely heavy conditions, Jackson kept Gold Medals handy before taking over with two to jump. Kicking clear as some behind him made mistakes, Gold Medals ran home a five-length winner ahead of Paddy Flood’s mount King Of Dudes, with Richard Cully getting Earthbound up for third.

“It was a great effort by Shane,” said Wilde after the race. “He’s an under-rated horseman. He never panics in his races. Shane showed his versatility by winning on the flat later in the day. Gold Medals has strong flat form behind him. He seems a natural jumper who is still improving. I think we’ll aim Gold Medals at the Grand National Hurdle on August 7th.”

Delighted with the result, Jackson highlighted that he thought the Elvstroem gelding was better on top of the ground. “I do think he’s better if it’s a bit drier,” said Jackson.

“Because he’s jumping so good, you can make use of it on dry tracks. On this heavy ground, you have to conserve energy. So he’s probably just jumping the same as the rest of the field.”

Jackson completed his double in the 1,100 metre handicap, riding Jose Wales at 61kgs for Warrnambool trainer Jarrod McLean.

Cobalt threshold

is lowered

RACING Australia has announced it intends to halve the allowable cobalt threshold to 100 micrograms per litre of urine.

The new rule comes into effect from Thursday, September 1st. Racing Australia says the lowered urine cobalt threshold and the introduction of a plasma cobalt threshold will provide significantly more sensitive means of detecting the abuse of cobalt in racing. Australia first introduced a threshold for cobalt in 2014 with a number of high profile trainers caught up in adverse findings, such as, Peter Moody, Mark and Sam Kavanagh and Darren Smith.