Helideck finds box seat
|
Ric McMahon shoots away to win the Group 3 BTC Sprint (Noel Pascoe photo)
|
The camaraderie of the racing industry banded together with concern for fallen jockey Luke Nolen moments after the running of the Group 3 Darley BTC Sprint 1350m at City Pacific Doomben.
The fall marred the brilliant run of winner Helideck and the concern for jockey Nolen flooded the enclosure with fellow jockeys, trainers and spectators anxiously waiting for news on the jockey.
Nolen came aground after falling from the Bart Cummings-trained Antidodes in the straight and was stabilised on the track before being rushed to hospital for further tests.
While the crushing reality of race-riding came to light so did the joy that comes with the racing industry.
Helideck (G4 Iglesia-Whirly Bird NZ) has been on a superb run lately with three wins on the trot for trainer Brett Cavanough. Young jockey Ric McMahon was in the saddle and found a box seat on the fence for the 1350m run before sweeping to the front at the right time to record a two and three quarters of a length win.
Next best was Absolute Glam (Steven King) followed by Mr Hornblower (Todd Pannell) a further three quarters of a length behind.
|
Trainer Brett Cavanough and jockey Ric McMahon debrief after Helideck’s win (Noel Pascoe photo)
|
“He’s going super. It’s just unbelievable isn’t it how horses can reward you, with patience and time, and bad manners and they can just turn the corner and be a lovely horse,” Cavanough said.
“Great ride. It was a dream run. He’s had sensational rides since he’s been here through Scott Seamer and Benny Looker. They’ve all done a good job on him.”
Seamer guided Helideck to win the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup 1300m at the Gold Coast at his last start and Ben Looker claimed a win at Eagle Farm with the horse the start before.
McMahon was thrilled to keep up his good Winter Carnival record by claiming another Group 3 win. A week earlier he won his first Group 3 on Fulmonti in the Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben.
“I was lucky enough during the week Mr Cavanough rang me and engaged me for the ride. (I’ve) Been riding the work all week,” McMahon said.
“I daresay if he didn’t see that ride (Fulmonti) I probably wouldn’t have been on it but I was lucky enough that he did see it.”
McMahon was confident that Helideck had the field covered. “Probably coming into the first turn there he was really tracking. Coming to the turn all I needed was clear running and I was going to win,” he said.
Cavanough summed up the win perfectly. “What’s he best at? Winning I suppose. He’s got a good turn of foot,” he said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – May 20
|
