Boozeroo (Kyra Yuill) clears away from the pack to win the OD Transport Handicap (1100m) on Saturday. Photos: Greg Symes.
A solid crowd attended the Esperance Bay Turf Club on Saturday afternoon for the annual Ladies Day meeting.
It was the female jockeys that dominated on the turf as Lisa Staples, Tash Faithfull and Kyra Yuill all completed doubles.
Meanwhile, trainer Josh Brown may have found the key to Boozeroo’s form, as the $2.50 favourite took out the OD Transport Handicap (1100m) off a 37 day freshen up, it’s sixth win from 12 starts at the track and distance.
Boozeroo has been well placed this season by Brown and connections, winning at 1100 metres at both the opening day meeting and then enjoying a 33-day gap between races to win again on boxing day.
A tilt for the $26,500 Esperance Sprint over 1200 metres after a 30-day spell at the Esperance Cup meeting is most likely Boozeroo’s next target.
Racing at the Esperance Bay track continues next Friday with the $30,000 TABtouch Road To The Esperance Cup RTG 70+ Handicap over 2000 metres the highlight.
The race is the last chance for local horses to show their form before the $100,000 Freight Lines Group Esperance Cup over the same distance on March 2.
Boozeroo (Kyra Yuill).
Top trainer
Helen Harding scored another double with Crunchy Nut ($3.4) in the Esperance Kia Handicap over 1400 metres and Favaios ($11).
Favious backed up its Maiden win a fortnight ago with victory in the last race of the day the Eljays Bar and Restaurant Handicap over 1200 metres.
The Harding stable has produced nine winners at the last four meetings and currently trails Josh Brown by one win in the race for the EBTC Trainer of the year award.
Top jockey
As alluded to in the Esperance Weekender’s online article ‘Getting Ready for Ladies Day at the Turf Club’ (Jan 31) it was the female jockeys that dominated on the track as the Ladies Day party off the track was in full swing.
Lisa Staples rode a double with Elounda Star ($2.6f) for Trevor Tasker in the Esperance Retravision Maiden (1600m) and West Coast Warrior ($2.5f) in the Cleanaway 131339 Handicap (1600m) for Gary Burger.
Tash Faithfull also covered a double with Wheatstack Thief ($2.5f) for Jane Hossell in the Congratulations Tyson and Taylor Handicap (1600m) and Crunchy Nut for Harding.
Not to be outdone, Kyra Yuill had a double as well, aboard Boozeroo for Brown and Favaios for Harding.
Best ride
Well-travelled jockey John Kissick returned to the WA jockey ranks after a short stint in NSW, riding former Victorian horse, Sure Thing ($3.9) for Kalgoorlie trainer David Smith to victory in the Esperance Kia Maiden (1100m).
Kissick made his intentions clear on Sure Thing surging away from its competitors from the barriers all the way to the finish line, going on to win by 5.4 lengths, the biggest win at the Esperance Bay track for some time.
